twoboys

49 minutes ago, 3 Boys said:

I think that is possibly a typo mistake, I believe the 16U team listed under Dean (coach) is actually the 15U team.  But who knows.  I just know the definitely do not have enough qualified AAA players there, possibly a few.   More than likely those teams will still be ranked in the bottom 5%-10% of Tier I.  I know the 18U team will definitely be down there considering who made the team. 

Probably a tier 2 team and can't be U15 in Tier 2,

On 5/20/2021 at 1:20 PM, forbin said:

I was not aware of this, I have a talented 2013 hockey addicted kid who after watching a 2011 Vengeance game last season is dead set on playing for them. So this thread has been great for me as well. How would one go about getting a foot in the door there? We don't play for SCIR either and I am assuming they use them as a "feeder" system so to speak?

I would try and get you kid some lessons with one of the instructors at Alpha.  I do think that would at least put you on the radar.   Either Berky or Michalski.

Tier 2 Independent has the same fees as Tier 1.  Fees are high for the most part because you have to pay for the coach.  Only way you don’t is to have a parent coach or spread the cost out among every kid in the organization.

Over the years the Icemen have fielded Tier 2 teams.  I have a friend who had a kid on that team and last year was the first year that the 05 team was as Tier 1.  My guess is that was because they joined a league and had to be Tier 1.  Was it last year that U18 was Tier 2?

3 hours ago, VTtransplant said:

Thank you. We actually wont be officially relocating until March (although I will be in Pittsburgh after the first of the year) so it would line up nicely for the tryout period it seems. My son will also be able to finish his season with his current team and my kids do cyber learning so their school year wont be affected. My company is being extremely flexible with all of this which is awesome. 

I really appreciate all of the input and private messages I have received. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and my son is able to get on a good competitive team in Pittsburgh! 

I would make a point to try and get an introduction and skate with the team prior to tryouts.  At the younger ages, the Vengeance have "practice" players.  Some of which will try to make the team the following year.

16 hours ago, mrfreeze said:

Esmark got most of the 07 Vengeance team from last year, They left cause of the coaching change and not getting their way. They will not hesitate to pull this again, so time will tell if they stay. Esmark has a big hole at 06/u15 level, they tried hard to pry kids away from Vengeance and SHAHA. The Crazy Russian was making promises and recruiting hard from Mid Am till tryouts. He promised most of them spots on the 05 team and just wanted them to show up to help bolster the numbers. They combined the 05/06 tryout, maybe this was to look more impresive or just made sense, you take what you want. PPE 06 turned over about half its team. It is still a good team, it definatly has some good kids and definatly has some pot holes that are there for other reasons. They will be able to shorten the bench come playoff time and we will see how that works for them. Vengeance and Shaha both look a little better, but just swapped players for mutiple reasons and picked up some of the PPE cuts. Baron probably upgraded the most picking up the big D the Pens cut, the Vengeance Goalie and looks like a couple other players to be determined. I did hear the Pittsburgh kids that are going to the Barons and going to billet and not do the daily drive. Lets check back at the end of season to see how it worked out.  Iceman might make out the best of this as many are going there, but this will be far from a AAA team and might be better playing local and some regional team. Maybe even play in PAHL since there is no 15 u aa tournament. 

 

Heard the Vengeance 06 goalie is playing U16 not U15.  The coaching change had nothing to do with the 07 kids leaving the Vengeance.  

The Icemen may turn out to be ok numbers wise.  Being last this year has its advantages.   

The Vengeance at the younger ages is much more reasonable than the older age groups.  Not sure what the 12 team will be next year.   I think the younger teams have been around 3000 but they may ask for more more money periodically for games, etc.  The 07 and 06 teams are around 5500 but they are inclusive I think, although I don't know all the specifics since they have non parent coaches year.  08 even went non-parent this year allegedly, so not sure if they will continue the weekend model and more modest fees.  I wouldn't worry about 5:00 practices.  I don't think they are very popular at all around here.  Usually, the earliest we have had was 5:30. 

The Vengeance at the younger age groups start tryouts pretty early so keep that in mind.   

The Pens is actually not bad price wise for squirts.  It jumps a good bit for peewee. 

A few of the Pens cuts went to the Barons.  SHAHA was top heavy so some of the better kids looking for a new team went there.  Vengeance got a well liked coach who was the skills guy for them last year.  So, no one was leaving unless they were disgruntled.  I don't think Esmark was surprised at their inability to field a team.
 

14 hours ago, aaaahockey said:

I might be missing context on this but often the girls are on the first team.  Ive seen that at Southpointe, Lebo, SHAHA (the girls above were on peewee 1) and Mon Valley to name a few

Was referring to the girls PPE teams.  The first squirt team plays more games than the second squirt team.

1 hour ago, hockey55 said:

Yes there’s a lot of girls in squirt and pee wee who are rostered on both. It seemed like half of the one SHAHA pee wee team was pens girls. 

I think part of this is due to the fact that the second squirt team may not play as much as the first squirt team. 

I would actually prefer if tryouts were earlier.  That way my kids can put hockey on the back burner mentally.  I think the trend of tryouts without parents in the stands makes it more stressful for kids.

My kids play other sports, we don't do spring hockey but we do take lessons throughout the off season.  I am fine if my kid improves over the summer to the point that he could have made a better team.   Lot of value in being able to have some success on the ice for team.    

17 hours ago, Saucey said:

There was little time for division placement this year due to COVID. Coaches and programs got their requests for the most part I think this year. Usually, this is one thing I think PAHL usually does really well. But those birth year teams can be hard, like someone else mentioned, because we aren't set up for by in Pa..

My son's team didn't get their request to move down. 

The 07 Badgers are pretty good.  I don't think the Badgers were surprised at all by their record.   Guessing that they preferred Bantam minor knowing it was likely going to be like this.

5 hours ago, hockeyisgreat said:

I heard the Pens are going to have training Camp at PPG Arena.

Heard this too.

If you child wants to start playing hockey I would get him or her into an ADM program this season.  No reason to  do another learn to play session it just puts of his or her development a season.  The reason I say this is that most ADM programs are 2 days a week and at the end of the day your child has to get on the ice to start developing.

At this point, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the 3 programs.  Pick one that fits your schedule and has a spot for you.  At the end of the season you can reevaluate the situation.  The only thing that can hinder your player’s development is if you wind up in a situation where he or she isn’t having fun.  
 

And the Jamborees were fun for the kids.  To the kids they seem like a big deal.

2 minutes ago, champeen said:

If you go back and look at the screenshot i posted, it shows 39 D-1 players from PA.   I was just extrapolating to 10 per birth year, and 4 or 5 of THOSE being from eastern PA, so 5 or 6 PER BIRTH YEAR.  but it's possible that the total PA number is weighted more heavily to western PA due to philly area players actually being from NJ or DE, and thus not counting toward the 39.

 

My bad.  Misread the post.

10 minutes ago, forbin said:

1 on Penn State played for PPE. 

2 on Mercyhurst both played for PPE.

1 on Bowling Green played for PPE.

There is definitely a trend here...

I get it.  The PPE is the big dog.   

However, looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how things play out.   The PPE requires North Catholic and Excel.  Not everyone from "Pittsburgh" lives within commuting distance to North Catholic.  The out of towners know coming in that it is required.  For the locals it is much more difficult decision.   Anyone know how many kids from the 06 team are at North Catholic? 

Also, right now the 08 and 09 Vengeance teams are close to the level of the PPE teams.   

On 10/14/2020 at 10:50 AM, champeen said:

16U hockey is without a doubt better than 18U.

Regarding college hockey: Yes, the players are spread out across more than four birth years, but they still only have 4 years of ELIGIBILITY.  So, maybe only a couple of 18yrs olds are playing D-1 college hockey today, but many others from their birth year will be playing 2 years from now.  By the same token, the number of 24 year-olds playing this year doesn't represent ALL of the kids from that BY who have played, since others have already finished playing and have moved on.   It still makes sense to call it a 4-year component, math-wise. 

I think those college numbers aren't that accurate.  RMU has 4 players form Western Pennsylvania.  One is from Wexford.  Played for the PPE.  Another is from "Pittsburgh" and played for the the faux AAA Preds and a season with the PPE.  And one is a transfer from UConn who is from Bridgeville.  He played for Esmark and PPE.  Lastly, another kid is from Moon and played for the PPE.  And a couple kids are at Niagra?  I am not saying that there are 50 kids playing D1 form Pittsburgh but more than 5.

On 10/7/2020 at 8:54 PM, PUCKCOVID19 said:

look at their strength of schedule and who they have played.  Not even a top 150 AA and they are claiming AAA? the posse up there are laughing all the way to the bank!!!

 

My friend's son is on that team.  And he is quite happy.  What are the other 05 options?  Aren't people on this board complaining about the Preds and Lebo too?    

On 9/10/2020 at 7:11 PM, Danner27 said:

I hate repeating myself, if it’s not PPE it’s not real “AAA”, esmark enters the conversation at midget. The rest is just glorified AA hockey. 
 

the 18U “AAA” icemen lost a few games to “AA” teams last weekend, one being the local predators team. 

So, if the 18U Icemen rostered as a AA Independent team you wouldn't have a problem with it?  I still think the kids that play on these  lesser AAA teams do so because there isn't a PAHL option that they like.  The PAHL organizations have to adapt. 

16 hours ago, champeen said:

yes, LOL, that a 29 yr old coach died.  it was sleeping pills.  and the Dr.s determined that COVID actually played a roll in dropping his blood/O2 levels in conjunction with the pills.  but regardless, some people will not care until it affects them.  i get that.  carry on.

I think we sort of have a split on how we view things.  Some people want to open a bit more and flatten the curve with hopes of moving toward "herd immunity".  Their thinking is that for the most part if you are relatively young you should be ok if you get covid.  On the other hand, some people want it to keep the restrictions in place and wait for a vaccine or better treatment.  Frankly, both options suck. 

7 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

Hmm, I sense a Lil’ 66’er parent is bitter by not having games. I totally get it.

How else can 7 year old Johnny get scouted?  Maybe it’s time to uproot the family so he can chase HIS dream.......

It was an 08.  Whole family was there.  Unless there were multiple families checking it out.

19 hours ago, Denis Lemiuex said:

What does this say about SSA. Same league but kids willing to leave the area. Yikes.

Boarding school is all about the aid package.  I know people that paid less than 10 for SSA.  And I know someone that paid half for a boarding school in VA for lacrosse.

34 minutes ago, Denis Lemiuex said:

Have you been to these U-18 showcases? If so. How many college and junior scouts are there? At least scouts from legitimate junior leagues not some of the crap that is out there.

As for playing after HS. There are tons of places to play. Most schools have club teams. Some more than 1. But most of the kids playing on these teams did not play AAA hockey as HS seniors. Although with the growth of AAA hockey teams, I can see that changing since 90 percent of the U-18 teams will be AAA in about 5 years. Playing AAA as a senior won't improve your chances of playing at most of these programs against those playing in PAHL and of HS hockey.

 

My point is if you want to play at the Division 3 level or a higher ACHA Division 1 Club team you better plan on playing Juniors.

30 minutes ago, Denis Lemiuex said:

Hopefully it is the realization that U-18 AAA hockey is highly overrated and waste of time and money. Most Colleges have stopped recruiting this age group. They are heavily on the younger kids because that's where recruiting is now. Also, the best kids in this group are playing Junior or at elite prep schools. Some lower lever junior leagues may be there scouting but I guarantee you few if any DI coaches are. Take a look at the NHL draft rankings. Show me the kids that are playing U-18 hockey on the list.

Some kids just want the chance to play hockey after high school.  For the most part you have to play juniors to play Division 3 hockey or even to make some club teams.  You know this and the kids know this too.  Lots of student athletes play all sorts of sports at the Division 3 level.  They play because they want to not because they are getting a scholarship.  So, if the family can swing paying for AAA hockey in high school or even low level juniors let them.  It is their checkbook.       

The one thing that is different is the locker rooms.  I think they do restrict the number of kids.  Parents sometimes wear a mask and sometimes they don't.  My kids have been in 3 different rinks.  Most of the time they are relatively empty so it isn't a big deal.  However, even if the rinks are somewhat crowded masks aren't worn by everyone.  Nor do the parents stay apart.   

20 hours ago, Danner27 said:

July, IMO and I’ve stuck with it for a month now is the earliest you will see rinks open and it will still be small groups. August will be tryouts if they even happen. With winter and the virus picking back up who knows what will happen. 

I agree with this.  August or September for tryouts is the best case scenario.  No idea how the potential for another spike comes into play.