Denis Lemiuex

3 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

The absurdity of the Pittsburgh youth hockey market has grown in the past 20 years (just like youth sports in general) but the talent pool has also grown substantially in the past 20 years. Some good and some bad in the past 20 years.

I really don't think the talent pool has grown.  In the 90s and early 00s not a lot of options for kids because WPA wasn't scouted. And yes more kids are playing DI and DIII than 10 -15 years ago but still we lack NHL draft picks. And I attribute the Cooleys" successes to Uncle and Dad more than WPA hockey.

Also. Friday night is Boy Basketball night (as is Tuesday).

QV shouldn't throw stones.

On a side note. Collin is a quality individual and a terrific ref.

Among other things,

https://butlerradio.com/lemieux-sports-complex-to-expand-after-receiving-grant/

I heard it is outdated so I am going to what until the complete history of the PA High School Championship comes out.

Couple more came to me mowing the lawn.

Andy Cesarski mid 80s Latrobe. Went to Culver and St.Louis draft pick

Matt Bartowski MTL and NHL

Zac Lynch from Shaler and still one of RMU's leading scorer

Furman South QV and RMU

Couple more before bed

Mike Handza of Shaler won two National Championships at Denver

Bob Kennedy went to Bowling Green

Mike Bagnato - Genesseo I believe

Low hanging fruit  Saad,

Bob Beers is somewhat credited of being the first Pittsburgher to play in the NHL. Grew up in Shaler but moved to Buffalo around 12 or 13.

Bill Thomas from Fox Chapel couple of NHL Teams

John Zeiler - TJ  to LA Kings and Phoenix I believe

Matt Bertani from Norwin was the video coach for the NY Islanders.

Couple of females

Lindsay Holdcroft of NA played at Dartmouth

Her cousin and sorry I couldn't remember her first name played at State College and played for the D1 Penn State team

SSA had Grant Scott who I believe was WPA's first NDTP from the area. Then Minnesota and I think UConn

Look at the Big3 hockey rosters bunch of guys Ty Murovich, Ryan Malone and Parker Milner are just a few.

Chuck Chiatto (Sp?) from NC was the first player from the area drafted in the NHL I belive but he was a Cranbrook Prep at the time and his roommate was either the Red Wings owner or GMs son. His NC teammate Tony Taylor went on to play Major Juniors in Canada.

Len Semplice was an assistant coach in the OHL. Still mind blowing because he was an American with really no hockey playing experience (No Junior DI, DIII or even club hockey).

Just heard the passing of Rose Semplice. For those who don't know her or only as Len Semplice's mother that is a shame. She pretty much single handed started high school hockey in western PA. Thousands have her to thank for their HS hockey experiences. She also brought AAA hockey (don't blame her - others have really screwed it up) here also with the Jr. Pens. I hope the league and the Penguins do something to honor her.

https://obituaries.post-gazette.com/obituary/rose-semplice-1085725690

4 hours ago, dazedandconfused said:

Great news. That place has some long history. Used to have fence instead of glass when I played there.

Damn, I'm old.......

fence? You're being too kind. I believe it was chicken wire, 

Getting a $3 million upgrade

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/covid-recovery-funding-to-help-pay-for-3m-renovation-of-greensburg-ice-arena/

16 hours ago, Lifelongbender said:

This is true, both in my experience and according to the experts. The best players at 10U and 12U are typically not the best players at 16U. It's not universal but it's a well-known phenomenon.

It's because their idiot coaches want to win so badly at that level. I've seen great U-10 players skate through entire teams. Then 4 years later when talent catches up, the same kid has his head down, can't make a pass and has a lousy shot because he had so many breakaways and only works on his slap shot. The 12U kids are the same although some benefit from size and when others catch up physically they are only a one trick pony,

But instead of coaches breaking bad habits/teaching hockey the right way. They enjoy winning games. I hope they are impressing people in bars with their U10 and U12 records.

19 hours ago, Pucks11 said:

Wouldn't it be 1 local kid since 3 of the other 4 drafted are from out of state and just play for PPE. 

I didn't include the non WPA PPE kids. It's 4 with one being from Johnstown. Development rules.

Approximately 330 kids drafted. Seven from WPA. Two go to Gilmour and one plays for the Washington Little Capitals. In essence, four local players with how many AAA programs and Shady Side Academy.  I think it is time for organizations to remove "development" from their websites.

2 hours ago, Danner27 said:

King of tier 3 & tier 2.5 (ncdc).

I just looked at the site, it’s been years but not much has changed. He’s still pawning the ncdc off like it’s the same level as the ushl or nahl. He is trashing the heck out of tier 3 junior hockey though. 

So all his stories are made up? Did programs fold or not? Did teams play games with less than 10 players? Were rosters fudged to give the appearance of being a legit team? Just because a person may or may not have it out for T3 doesn't make his info incorrect.

Terrific piece on him and his family on The Athletic's website.

I strongly recommend you go read the Death Pool columns on thejuniorhockeynews.com if you are even thinking about T3 Juniors. Great advice and warning signs to look out for.

And another group - NCAA's have 4 practices a week (with off weeks and pre season practices about 2.5:1 ratio) but they are also horrible a record of developing players. Need to go to the 1.5:1 ratio since it is working so well with the WPA kids.

And yet the NHL has a three week training camp. Practices on off days and morning skates. But hey they are only the best players in the world so they do not need to practice that much. It's about 2.5 practices per game. But our young amateurs can really grow with the 1:1 ratio.

As a coach I will just tell my players to ice the puck. Slow the game down. More curfews. Less fun for all involved. Great move by USA Hockey.

The one thing to add here is that kids going from HS to ACHA might not play right away vs kids who go the junior route (both real junior leagues and money makers). Mostly physical maturity.

On 4/7/2022 at 2:24 PM, hockeyisgreat said:

Or they just take them without tryouts!   I hear there is a lot of that going on around here.

That is wrong. It will never happen with the high integrity people involved in these programs.

Lots of supplemental tryouts coming I guess

I was making a point that there is enough players for only one competitive team made up by Florida players. While here. Everyone plays AAA even though half are probably high A players. Sarcasm doesn't come through in a written form.