carroll81

What were the opportunity after opportunities that you are comparing to, so we have some frame of reference.

Interesting, but it doesn't surprise me. The skill level goes down at each level so their ability to make proper plays goes down. Leads to more penalties.

They play a "local" schedule (NOVA/Philly region) and also a few showcases. There is travel for the showcases, which are 4 game weekend trips. I find it silly, but that seems to be what the people want. The feedback I am getting from some parents I know are that it is still a lot of travel and too many games. The DVHL teams used to actually have less travel, even though they had to make an occasional trip to Wilkes-Barre or York. But, those teams that supplemented DVHL with EJ showcases have about the same travel as they had before.

Pretty straight forward. They are a hedge-fund backed organization that buys rinks. Once they own the rink they will absorb the teams/organizations that play there. Now that they have some critical mass, they started their own league. The league started out as just supplemental showcases to the existing local leagues. Now the league has a full regular season, in addition to the showcases. They have also lured organizations from other rinks that they do not own to join the league. The biggest difference between them and other leagues: money and having paid personnel running things.

My experience with BB operations in the East is that they do not rush in to update the rink. Unless there is some kind of emergency, don't get your hopes up for any updates this season. Maybe next year.

It adds up really quickly now, just following the unsportsmanlike penalty ladder: 2 minute - roughing 2 minute - unsportsmanlike 10 minute - unsportsmanlike Game Misconduct (10 minutes - unsportsmanlike) Game Misconduct (10 minutes - 4 penalties in a game) All from one instance of not being able to handle your mouth after a penalty. But, the teenage adrenaline gets flowing, discipline goes out the window, and this is what can happen. Zero tolerance is a bitch.

Scott Chamness graduated in 1980. He was not on the State Championship team in 1981.

I'm with you then. Nobody used to recruit squirts. There were no "elite" 10 year olds. Most of the time you played for the organization at whatever rink was closest. If there were several rinks close by, you played with the team with mostly kids from your school. Funny... probably had just about the same percentage of kids moving on to "higher" levels of hockey back then too.

There are no EMT's on site at any hockey games in Eastern PA. JR's, high schools and some older T1 club teams have Athletic Trainers. All the rinks have multiple AEDs available. They are designed to be used by anyone.

It was not all at once, more like dominoes. I think that most of those teams played AHF last year. Last year AHF acted as a supplemental league, as a replacement to the teams also playing in the EJ. So, they all played regular season DVHL and some showcase+ games in the AHF. The full season league was announced and a few teams were part of the announcement or announced shortly after. I think Team Philly was one of the first. The league then made presentations to the clubs they were targeting and those clubs slowly announced their decision. The "smaller" clubs were a surprise to me - Haverford and Wissahickon. Should be an interesting season.

Pretty significant hit, about half the organizations: Delaware Ducks Grundy Senators Haverford Hawks Lancaster Firebirds LV Phantoms Philadelphia BLazers Palmyra Black Knights Team Philadelphia Valley Forge Colonials WBS Jr Knights Wissahickon Skating Club York Devils Maybe it will rejuvenate the DVHL. Maybe all the teams will be back in the DVHL is a year or two. Who knows.

I don't know enough about rink owners in the West. But there are quite a few teams in the AHF that are not owned by BB or play in a BB rink. Team Philadelphia and VF Minutemen are privately owned by rink owners. Haverford Hawks plays in a municipal rink. Wissahickon's rink is owned by a skating club I believe. I could be sooner than you think.

Here in the East, AHF will be in their first full season of league play. There is still a bunch of stuff not released yet, most important is the path to Nationals. But, they did their seeding already, their schedules are out, their website is up to date, they have a plan to rebalance divisions during the season if really needed. All the things that "the parents" seem to perennially complain about. Funny thing though, it is still the same players as were playing in the DVHL and NJYHL. Will keep you updated on how it is going!

My guess is Commotio Cordis. I am more familiar with it from Lacrosse and Baseball than hockey. The impact from the puck causes an irregular heartbeat. The only intervention is immediate defibrillation with an AED. Agree with Nemesis... make sure you are using current hockey gear. The latest shoulder pads have an added guard over the heart area to prevent such an injury. Also, can't hurt to notice where AED's are in rinks that you go to.

This is old news.

It really isn't. It just follows a path unlike other traditional sports. It has evolved recently to include more prep and NCAA vs. junior, but if you know the path it is pretty straight forward.

I get it. Serenity now!

Here's how I manage the insanity now: Who cares what division or league it is. It is still the same kids and still the same level of talent. It just gets moved around and called something different (for whatever reason). But, if you pay attention, you can figure out which teams should be at whatever you want to call the levels in your head. I like classifying them as AAA (with birthyear), AA (typically second year at the age group), and A (typically first year at an age group or athletic kids that are new to hockey). Everything else is in-house in my mind. I can usually place a team in my matrix in my mind after watching a period or so. Then, when I watch, I can set my expectations accordingly going forward. No need to worry what they call themselves or how much they are paying. Walking into the rink with the proper expectation makes it much more enjoyable.

Agreed! I'll add that it's fun to watch high school and prep teams that regroup and possess rather than just fire it back in, even though then can.

Agreed. I wonder how they compare to all the other NGO's in the US. Maybe something I will research while watching golf this weekend.

So USA Hockey changes checking, which increases participation, which is part of their charter, and it's because they are exploiting youth hockey for money?

I heard last year that the CHF was formed by some of the ACHA D2 and D3 teams because they felt those levels were not properly represented or respected by the ACHA leadership (mostly D1 teams?). I saw some of the CHF playoffs at Iceline. Some pretty good hockey.

I don't know why the West does it the way they do. They do it different than any other sport in the state. You will never get moved in the East, unless your enrollment changes. It is very subjective. For teams that struggle to compete at their level or need to combine program to be able to field a team, there is a D2 division (at least in the ICSHL). Those teams are not eligible for Flyers Cup.

Using the PIAA Lacrosse classifications as reference (closest I could find for 2 divisions). The have AA and AAA. The cutoff between the divisions seemed to be 490. West Chester Rustin: 469 West Chester East: 453 For reference: Moon Area: 458 Peters Township: 452 https://phillylacrosse.com/2022/piaa-releases-boys-classification-enrollments-by-division-for-2023-2024-seasons/

PA Hockey has been telling everyone for weeks that they can beat anyone and are perhaps the best team in the state this year. I believe the beat Malvern during the regular season. They are playing A because that is the size of their school. Hockey in the East is done like all other sports in the state. You are placed in divisions for Flyers Cup based on school size. A is small schools. AA is large schools. AAA is schools with no-boundary. During the season you play in your league, which may include a mix of A,AA and AAA. For Flyers Cup you play only teams in your size.