nemesis8679

It serves as a good reminder to look out for your kids, and maybe bring up- or repeat- what is and isn't appropriate behavior from a coach, or any adult for that matter. This whole thing is just like the recent church stuff, Penn State, Boy Scouts, etc. where enough people knew damn well what was going on and allowed it to continue.

Here's an excerpt, that makes it hard to have much confidence in Jim Smith or USA Hockey (well, whatever confidence anyone had left after they decided to hire John Vanbiesbrouk) . I remember hearing about Adrahtas a couple years ago, but not to the extent of the article. I'd post the whole article, but it's not really appropriate to put where kids might read it, it's pretty explicit. 

"

In 2010, Adrahtas was slated to be inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.

Chris Jensen heard about it and reached out through a friend to AHAI, the regional affiliate of USA Hockey in the state of Illinois that oversees the nomination process and approves candidates, and notified the organization about what Adrahtas had done to him. Jensen was asked to draft a letter detailing his experience. It was the first time Jensen had told anyone outside his immediate friend group what happened (The Athletic spoke to three of Jensen’s friends, who confirmed the details of his disclosure to them).

The letter that Jensen sent to AHAI, dated Feb. 10, 2010, describes his interactions with Adrahtas in the summer of 1984. Jensen wrote that he believed Adrahtas performed oral sex on him, that he felt it was part of a larger pattern of abuse and that Adrahtas was a threat to adolescents and those under his authority.  (This letter was later shared with the SafeSport investigator, according to a source.)

Jensen said he was subsequently informed that an AHAI hearing was set for Adrahtas to address the allegations but that Adrahtas had some sort of breakdown and declined to cooperate with investigators. Jensen was told Adrahtas was suspended from coaching AHAI-sanctioned teams.

AHAI has declined to comment on any disciplinary action taken against Adrahtas as a result of the letter, or on account of any previous or subsequent notifications of his behavior. Nowhere in the publicly available minutes of the AHAI board of directors meetings in 2010 is there any evidence that Jensen’s letter was discussed. USA Hockey, via a spokesperson, said that it never received any reports of misconduct prior to September 2018.

Several AHAI officials declined to comment or did not return calls and emails. At least one deferred to the organization’s lawyer and SafeSport. That lawyer did not return multiple calls and emails for comment.

The SafeSport investigator assigned to the case referred questions to a spokesperson, who declined to divulge specifics of the investigation, citing both privacy and safety concerns.

When approached at a recent USA Hockey event, Jim Smith, a long-standing member of AHAI (he was recently recognized with the Founders Award for 40 years of service to the organization; 1980-2020), said that he was never aware that AHAI was informed about Adrahtas and did not know what happened with his Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame candidacy. 

Smith is now the president of USA Hockey."

5 hours ago, Jack Handey said:

dumber than no icing while on PK?

There should be icing on a pk. Makes the players get creative and make a play. I can see the NHL going to that someday. 

That "no delayed offsides" is the dumbest thing in youth hockey. 

13 hours ago, dropthepuck said:

16's should be very interesting. PPE hasn't played any of these teams this season with the creation of their elite league. too good for the commoners of the tri-state area I guess

Or afraid of being embarrassed. 

Well, it's better than "DAWGS". 

3 hours ago, HockeyDad23 said:

My squirt went to a Yuri camp. Money well spent. Called Interel Hockey. On and off ice training, learned about respect and teamwork, stretching and diet

I've seen him work with kids, looks like  he really knows his shit and gets them going. That said, when I've been around, he seems like he's usually working with older kids- maybe a bit intense for squirt or peewee? I only mention it because he seems like a great coach. But if he coaches young kids (that just want to play hockey, or who are there because their parents make them) like the older kids, I could see where maybe they'd get burned out after so much of it? Again, by all accounts he's very good, and I only mention it because as much as I've thought about signing mine up for one of his summer camps, I've also considered 14 or 15 to maybe be a more appropriate age for that type of training? But I don't really know, or any know nobody to ask who's had that experience with a 12 or under kid. 

Been going to PIA for several months at least once a week. The rink is pretty segregated from anything, never had a problem there. Surrounded by woods and houses with yards. Troublemakers would have to go out of their way to make a trip to the arena. My easiest way to get around any troublemakers is not stop at the Sheetz or the businesses on that main drag. Driving from the 28 off-ramp to the arena, walking into the arena, and back, I've had no issues. So unless the issue is with the youth hockey teams based out of there, the town of New Kensington is irrelevant. 

Sounds like the Marijuana smokers were piss-poor teammates beyond just smoking Marijuana if only 2 kids wanted them back, and 2 players quit the team over it. 

Opportunity is Kazakhstan is there, if not bizarre... 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.barstoolsports.com/blog/907141/khl-team-slaughters-a-sheep-on-the-ice-before-practice-hockey-guys

I can certainly see the points about playing the highest level you can, pushing yourself to achieve higher, or simply loving the game so much that you want to learn every minutiae involved- that's a good thing. 

12 hours ago, OrrWhat said:

My point exactly.  I think it’s very strange that this PPE team that is not associated with the Catholic high school that all of the team players are made to attend is even being proposed by people so high up in the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Organization.  This team could potentially be the best 18U team in Pgh, one of the most scouted in Pgh and the absolute best players may not even have a chance to be on the team.  

I would guarantee that not nearly all the best players would be on a team like that, because of financial considerations, being told where you must attend school, etc. Just consider how many great players never even got to that level to even consider this option because of finances or level of  time commitment. 

Also, if you were moving from Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia, or wherever just to play hockey- why relocate to Pittsburgh to do it? With all the other options available? Just seems weird to me. And for what? A 1/10 of one percent chance you'll ever even see a shift in the NHL, let alone a career? 

I think it's pretty jive to expect someone to attend a religious school to play hockey. 

All very good information, I really appreciate you all sharing info!

What are the deciding factors of playing Birth Year or, say, 12u?

Thanks everybody, this is a lot of help. 

Fafa, I've heard a few good "reviews" of NP. It's definitely a consideration. Butler Valley is probably out, we'd need to know what the schedule is for sure. In addition to the ice hockey team, he has a skills coach once a week and two ball hockey teams that he plays for. So a reliable schedule is a must. 

And yeah, 9:30 pm is definitely a late start for that age. That rink is a good 30-40 minutes from us (not that some others aren't, but that late start would be a killer) , so I think I can cross that one off the list. Thank you very much for your insight. 

Reg- thank you! That was very informative. I really appreciate it. 

So my son is an 08 (or 12u) and is currently playing with a devo team. He's looking to play in a more competitive environment. He'll likely be playing middle school PIHL next season but is also looking to play for one of the local PAHL teams. All of the area teams (North Pittsburgh, Vipers, Renegades, RMU, etc.) I pretty much know nothing about. So, I figured I would ask the members here if they've had experience with these organizations, and what kind of experience they've had. Are they organized? How much distance traveling (one weekend a month, or more) ? Do the coaches know what they're doing? Do they have the right balance of seriousness vs. fun? That kind of stuff. What did you like, what didn't you like? 

Thanks in advance. 

Maybe if the schools actually promoted the hockey teams, they'd have an easier time doing NCAA Division 1. Hell, you could get a crowd if it was marketed. 

Having to go to a catholic school to make a hockey team would for sure shitcan any ideas I'd of had for playing on that team. Just sayin'. 

Why did they shoot it down? 

8 hours ago, Danner27 said:

I’m glad my oldest is done and my second is graduating. They loved the game, played at high levels. As a parent I feel this is the perfect time to be out of this hamster wheel of money sucking sport. 
 

I really wish the state AG would investigate the pens but that’s never going to happen. I’m sure when you look at the upmc side of things, the amount of money is not comprehendible to us common folk.  

Investigate them for what, exactly? Specific examples, please. I'm seriously asking, I don't understand. 

4 hours ago, aaaahockey said:

Yep I guess that gives you a license to be classless to 9 year olds. Good call.

You could say that parents putting their kids on AAA teams that aren't reaallly AAA teams and the coaches/adults leading the charge are the most classless of all. 

Shouldn't be game over. That's even more embarrassing. Just don't put it on the board. 

Or, something like if you go up 10 and you're the coach, don't be an asshole. Pretty simple. 

4 hours ago, Mysonisagoalie said:

Some interesting reading on the PIHL website. Did not realize things had gotten this bad.

The PIHL has compiled a "December 2019 Disciplinary Report" for distribution.  That report can be found on the PIHL website under PIHL > Initiatives > Sportsmanship.

Wow. That report reads like every game is played at Wells-Fargo Arena.