BeaverFalls

This is a good reminder to all that a player doesn’t have to be on a AAA team from day one to be able to play AAA etc. There’s a lot of FOMO that if someone isn’t there by 12u it’s going to be all over for them. Not the case.

Adults are ruining youth sports.

According to elite prospects there hasn’t been any that’s gone on to play at those levels recently (not sure if any of them got drafted but didn’t sign etc). The Preds have had two go on to play professionally but are late 80s birth years.

Congratulations to those who were selected but also an opportunity for people to see the chances of advancement out of this area is extremely slim. Keep working but enjoy the ride because for most, all they’ll leave with the experience they had.

There was PPE at 196 and 238 were the only others I saw from the “area”. https://ontariohockeyleague.com/draft/2022

I think that’s a good idea - definitely has potential imho.

I’m sure people won’t agree with me, but I’ve seen more development come from quality camps, lessons and training than arbitrarily playing on the next higher A team. Obviously there’s a point where you don’t want to be playing way below one’s skill level, but saving that extra 2-10k per year and investing it into the aforementioned will get the best bang for the Buck.

That’s a blast from the past. I believe when WJ had a team, that’s where they played out of.

Yes

This seems to be the going norm now. Advertised tryouts seconds after they’re eligible and endless rounds of supplemental tryouts throughout the summer.

This brings up a good point that a majority of parents in WPA just aren’t knowledgeable. Mostly not their fault, but makes them extremely vulnerable and fomo and some ego are often to blame. Caveat Emptor.

You definitely do not need “exposure” or to play AAA to play t3 juniors.

There was a period of time Cal played out of BP Bladerunners I believe. I’m assuming it would be a less than desirable move back given that it’s down to one sheet now and a further trek - but potentially necessary.

I I have a feeling teams would have tryouts in December-January if they could.

They seem do a pretty good job at marketing their tier II program and bringing kids in. A lot of those kids are coming from all other areas in WPA. I remember about 6 years ago when their 18u team went to nationals they had kids from Moon, Gibsonia, Butler, Delmont etc.

I’d expect them to be competitive at least, based on history. Idk the exact specifics as to who is remaining or not. The 16u was capable in the district so if some of them are retained and move up, I don’t see them completely falling off.

Other than midstate I’ve yet to see a AA team from that area. That’s pretty sad considering the Cambria team has been around a long time.

Yes. I’ve never heard of that other team.

15% of their income?

Program out in Ebensburg looks to be in process of folding. Seeing only two teams advertised for tryouts and not enough showed up for that. I for one was never fond of the drive to play in that mini-rink but one less pahl organization.

There’s talks that a church (who I believe uses it part time) are in process of making it their permanent facility.

This is basically a rebrand of the ejehl which was pretty low quality hockey.

They should eliminate offsides.

Lmao. No way these games are competitive. Scores in the twenties to 0?

Extremely different than PIHL. Bishop McCort plays with 6-8 f1 visa players a year and the dregs of the league barely have 1-2 kids who play travel hockey at any level. It’s a garage league. A lot of really dirty play and the league rules aren’t enforced. EG Westmont brought in a kid who played 0 games for the team to play for them in playoffs. Teams like Central Cambria (in Ebensburg) have players from as far away as Armstrong and Butler Counties. That’s not school based/scholastic hockey.