Pghmom

I have experience with girls hockey as my daughter has played for many years. Definitely steer clear of PPE. One of the most biased and shady organizations for girls hockey. Being part of the Penguins organization, you would think the Penguins management would want them to be developing hockey for PITTSBURGH girls. They don't. They go out and look for girls from other organizations across the country that they can steal and bring in to make themselves look better. They'll even help their parents find local boarding schools for these out of state players. A disgrace to girls hockey in Western PA. They barely practice and when they do, they're lucky if they have 8 - 10 girls since so many don't live in our area and only show up for games. I have friends who's daughters made the team and were told straight up that their child would be nothing more than a bench warmer but we'll "try to work on her skills". And these girls were excellent hockey players! If they truly put any effort in working with the local talent, they could be just as competitive. It's all about the adults looking good. They don't care about 90% of the girls playing for them. Don't waste your time or money on the shysters running this organization. I really wish the Penguins would clean house and get this organization developing Western PA girls. Steel City on the other hand, practices at least 4 times a week, they don't go out and recruit, they offer a minor team for 14, 16 and 19U girls who are newer players and need development training as well as 12U, 14U, 16U and 19U teams (they might be having a 10U this year as well. I think I heard that). The 14, 16 and 19 teams are groomed to be National bound and they are the true Pittsburgh hockey team for local girls. They're tryouts are this Saturday and Sunday, May - 4 and 5. If you have a daughter looking for a place to play or you know someone who does, here's their tryout page with the details: https://www.steelcityselectshockey.com/2019-tryouts. There are some Divison III scholarship opportunities for girls playing Tier II also if that's important to you.