Pucks11

2 hours ago, Nepotisim_anyone said:

I’d love for someone to explain what criteria determines who gets accepted or nominated. Shouldn’t it be driven entirely by stats? 

The "BETTER" teams get more picks. Coaches pick the kids from their team. They take WAY to many kids off the bat between Western PA, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. On top of that EVERY Midam team gets at least 1 invite plus some school teams as long as they are registered with Midams.

To answer your question NO, it absolutely should not go entirely on stats. It SHOULD go to kids that know how to play as a team and not the ones who's parents push them to put up 100 goals and 00 assists.

Like Herb Brooks said  "I'm not looking for the best players, Craig. I'm looking for the right ones."

Unfortunately with Midams that isn't always true either when it comes to the 2nd round. 9 times out of 10 ALL the yellow helmets with get the call back, usually ALL the red helmets and then the coaches kids or kids who's parents know someone at USA hockey and then the best kids to fill the open spots.

4 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

So, does this Dr. own the Vengeance and the rink? Or how does he have leverage to make the top ice-buyer join Vengeance or not get ice at all?

Yes, the Dr. owns the rink. It is listed under an LLC that leads to his home address.

5 hours ago, PUCKCOVID19 said:

all of that was built for the jr that folded so it was handed down to the faux aaa teams.... nothing special 

All of that was built for their AAA teams mainly the 08/09 crew that started their youth organization. It was also built to lure new kids/families with shiny new toys.

That Jr team is the red headed step child of that place.

5 hours ago, LGP13 said:

Weird, I couldn't find anywhere on their press release where it says SCIR is going from non-profit to for profit Vengeance.

So, 1 Logo, no other (PAHL) organizations to split ice time with, assuming increased fees. What are the positives of this move? I understand SCIR probably had to do it or they wouldn't have a place to play for their teams, but from the outside looking in, it looks like a dirty move by Vengeance to make more money with no upside for the teams forced to rebrand?

The non profit will be a write-off for the good Dr. for all of his "donations" to the Vengeance AAA teams.

The positives are 1. You will get a coach/GM that can out drink any of the parents and just got off of his 2nd DUI. He will coach your kids while on house arrest and wearing his ankle monitor.

2. You get professional EX athletes as coaches that will teach the dads how to cheat on their wives when they go out of town.

3. You get the flashy locker rooms with the fake walls that you have to walk 1/8th of a mile and through another building to get to the rink.

4. You have the "state of the art gym" that only 6 kids at a time can use but that's okay because they have a shooting area smaller than the one in your basement and 1/20th of a basketball court.

You also get the front "lounge area" with the high top bar tables.

Can't forget the video room that doesn't hold the whole team so kids sit on the floor.

But you do get some cool swag and jerseys.

15 minutes ago, spilledbeans said:

I know the coach and his wife for years. There is alot going on and the owner is covering his ass by getting rid of them.

 

The owner is the one that needs to go, lol.

36 minutes ago, nemesis8679 said:

They also have one particular coach I wouldn't let anywhere near my kid if he was in that age group. 

 

They also have this guy in their organization

https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/owner-sharpsburg-car-dealership-accused-ripping-off-customers/WLK4JJI6IRCI3OFVKCLJN64ZDQ/

2 hours ago, LGP13 said:

The "parent coach" discussion always makes me laugh... don't get me wrong there are also parent coaches out there that know very little about the game and just are trying to help, but it's like someone that is good at hockey, knows how to coach, cares about the kids, has considerable hockey knowledge is all of a sudden null and void once they have a kid?! 

I get it, everyone is worried that kids will be treated "unfairly", "favored", etc. if a parent is behind the bench. If anything, I probably gave/give my kids less leniency when I coached them. I know that isn't always the case, but nothing ever is. So "parent coach", "non-parent coach", who gives a shit. Can the guy/girl coach and treat all the players accordingly? That's all that should matter.

This right here☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻. I know for a fact that in 1 Tier 1 AAA birth year that 4 of the the top 10 teams in the country have parent coaches. I know "pay for" coaches that are worse than parent coaches. The people usually complaining about parent coaches know NOTHING about hockey and just repeat what they hear other complaining parents say or they THINK their kid is better than they are. If you don't like it then volunteer/apply yourself.

2 hours ago, hockeyisgreat said:

I must be looking in the wrong places!  We should start a thread for orgs to post their tryout info!

Usually someone does, I am surprised that no has yet with some of these people.

13 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said:

Oighir,  welcome to the forum.  You bring a lot of great points into the discussion.  We need more new voices around here to share their experiences and opinions.  Looks like the landscape of youth hockey around here will be changing greatly this year.  So far the only tryouts I have seen are for the Huskies.  I bet we see them all coming out within the next few weeks.  Can't wait to see the official word from the Renegades and Vengeance.

Almost every local organization has posted their tryouts either on their website or Facebook EXCEPT for national bound teams.

17 minutes ago, YardSale said:

I've heard it isn't a purchase, just a rebrand of the non-profit.  2 entities will remain, Tier 1 and Tier 2.

The "good doctor" that owns the Vengeance will probably use the Renegades non-profit as some sort of write-off to cover his losses with the Vengeance since he can only claim so much as "donations".

20 hours ago, Ihearthockey said:

They are in the division that apparently doesn't matter

Because he thinks their division is single A---B

14 minutes ago, Ihearthockey said:

I guess they should all quit and fold up shop then.  

I am surprised that PIHL hasn't seen this guys rankings and done that yet.

1 hour ago, Ihearthockey said:

So CV beats the formerly undefeated Avonworth to stay undefeated and they still aren't in the top 5?  

Interesting.  

He doesn't consider that a real division. They are the A 1b and aren't as good as the A 1a teams.

57 minutes ago, TheRightCall said:

Your probably right, heard the vengence coach was out of control.

Not the coach that sits at the bar before/ in between games getting hammered and fresh off his 2nd DUI.

1 hour ago, Wes said:

I can 100% assure you bad behavior / mouthing off, unsportsmanlike was never part of any team or from any of the coaches that I managed during timeframe.  

The consistent thing was that our team was usually received many more penalties each game at home.  

it is what it is.

 

The only team in the Badgers history that had good kids, parents and coaches 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

22 minutes ago, Wes said:

I can assure you the teams that I managed during the timeframe I referenced did not have these sorts of kids on it.  As manager I was at every single game and never saw any behavior like this, period.  But we're likely in two different age ranges and times, so I can't speak for other teams that I wasn't part of.  

Good for you but different age ranges doesn't matter. I have seen it from Mites to Midgets with that organization including the coaches whether as a coach, spectator or ref.

1 hour ago, bender05 said:

my son played birth year at Allegheny a few years and we definitely were reverse homered constantly-but lots of refs are from a rival organization 

The Badgers parents and players are well known amongst the refs as being the dirtiest and rudest players and fans in the area. Of all the organizations to say they get reversed homered, no it's just being called right. They actually had a kid (13) tell a female ref to go make him a sandwich, multiple kids double bird the fans and even had a kid air jack off to the crowd as he got kicked out of a game. That's just recent stuff.

2 hours ago, hockeyisgreat said:

No discussion?

Only thing I got is that in Class A there are 2 divisions Blue and Gold yet all of his teams come from Gold
when Blue still has 4 undefeated teams in it.

2 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

Your math is strange. 09s have two Tier II teams well inside the top 100 of the combined rankings. Those are better teams than those very low-end Tier I 08 teams you mentioned.

How many local 08 kids made the national camp this summer? I think five? That's pretty good, but there will be more 09s. 09s are deeper.

I think arguments could be made for a few different BYs. But in terms of depth, hockey in Pittsburgh is absolutely getting better with each passing year. I know all the cynical, depressed, and downer type people never like to admit when anything is good or positive.

I said Tier 1, so apparently your reading comprehension is strange 🤔.

To answer your next question 12 of the 15 available spots from Midams for the National Camp were taken by local kids not 5.

Also 11 of the 25 available spots from Midams for the Multi District camp were local kids.

1 hour ago, RJUSHL said:

2009 is an extremely strong BY in the area. Six teams in the top 100. I'm guessing that's never happened before. May be the strongest and deepest BY ever to come out of Pittsburgh.

09 Icemen have a legit shot at a Tier II national championship. Looks like right now they are actually #1 in the national Tier 2 rankings.

2009 the strongest and deepest birth year out of Pittsburgh, 😂😂😂😂😂 said no one EVER.

Thare are 4 Pittsburgh teams in the top 100 of Tier 1 (6 if you count Midams district).

The 2008's have 6 in the top 103 of Tier 1 and 10 if you count Midams district.

3 in 06 and 4 in 10

13 hours ago, Icebucket said:

I'd think alpha will force everyone to use their guys at a fair rate for this season, then will jack up the price year after year. Those clubs won't have any other option aside from trying to find ice at another rink.

They do have to find the money to pay those former NHL players that they are bringing in as coaches.

2 hours ago, Loves Puck said:

For those of you not aware, the ownership of Alpha Ice Complex has forced the teams playing out of their rink to use Greater Pittsburgh Game Management, and only them, for officiating services. This despite the fact that some of the various teams playing there had already come to agreements with other groups to provide their referees.

They essentially extorted the teams into using their service, regardless of cost or budget, by threatening their ice time if they refused. This comes after the high school league (PIHL), as well as college teams like the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne club teams, had already turned down their offers and agreed to deals elsewhere.

 

In doing this, Alpha and GPGM have blackmailed the teams into using them, all just a few weeks before the season begins. The teams were left with no leverage as it was too late to pursue any other realistic options.

This leads to a slippery slope. Sure, Alpha and GPGM may provide them with competitive rates this year. But there’s nothing stopping them from imposing unfair or exorbitant rates and conditions going forward, or even excluding certain teams or officials. Prior agreements and contracts mean nothing to them so long as they control the ice.

 

It also could lead to other rinks and ownership groups doing the same thing. This cuts out the choice for any team or league to control their own destiny, eliminating any competition and undercutting the officials as well.

As independent contractors, all referees can choose of their own free will where and for whom they want to skate, and can decide whether they want to work for such a group. But this concerned referee thinks it would set a dangerous precedent to support such an action. Many officials won’t choose to support GPGM. It’s up to the rest of you to decide how you want to proceed.

The leagues, teams, and USA Hockey have taken notice. Legal action could even be coming their way. It’s up to you to choose your own path. But be aware of the questionable tactics employed by this group.

 

Sincerely,

A Concerned Referee

Alpha is getting mad because they spent all that money on a facelift with private locker rooms and 10 x10 foot private gym in a box for their "Elite" teams and the only team that gave them a foot to stand on got blown up. They have no draw anymore so they have to control anything and everything they can.

22 minutes ago, Ihearthockey said:

I think NC scrimmaged Avonworth at UMPC last night.  

N.C lost 3-2.

8 minutes ago, Loves Puck said:

Alpha Ice Complex is the Host.

What a DUMP. They must have a had or do have a rodent problem. Smells like Mouse and or Rat $hit BAD

Giving the "Barn" analogy a run for it money. 

The Ice Sucks, all flood, little to No Cut.

I've seen better lighting at Club Erotica. 

The Hockey was mediocre at best.

 

You mean to tell us that the $1,000 paint job in the private locker rooms of the old night club didn't make that place the best for hockey!

2 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

Do you know how many Esmark and Vengeance 08 players made it to natty camp?

5 Vengeance, 5 Pens, 1 Preds, 1 other Pittsburgh kid and 3 from outside of Pittsburgh.