Racchi’s Rug

Pete at the Bridgeville Pure Hockey is a legend also. But for what you’re describing I’d second the Binnie’s recommendation.

I think the Thanksgiving tournaments will be the true test of what’s to come with the abundance of out of town teams that typically attend these events. I’m going to say the weekend before though and I hope I’m wrong.

I thought the Bradford teams played in the Buffalo leagues?

I’m all for masking etc not just heading into rinks but where called for in public spaces. i can’t speak to NY’s restrictions but PA has 26 states on its recommended quarantine list. PA’s current rate is 8%. So if it followed its own rules set by Wolf and Levine it too would be a quarantined state. conversely, look at Ohio’s site. Pretty much every state in the Midwest from Iowa and culminating in Nevada. There’s a map with each state’s percentage per 100,000 cases. Reasonable. PA- not reasonable. PA has just a stupid list of states with no research or actual info on their site. Ohio at least has graphical explanations. They pull this stuff out of nowhere in Harrisburg. And as I said I believe Covid is a threat and it’s real but it’s the blind leading the blind with the governor and his staff. Also Bogen. Just a bunch of bull. Why should it be different state by state.

I wonder how soon the PIHL will go back to the regular game format and not the 4/4 system.

Is the MyHockey rating/ranking system tied into the MyHockey tournaments that run all over the country?

There are 3 gigantic tournaments here next weekend at the South hills rinks minus Lebo and the Allegheny Valley cluster of rinks. I wonder how/if that’s going to go down.

Totally agree. I don’t think most rinks are going to enforce it and we all know some haven’t but the one I can see having trouble with distances is Hess given its confines. So just spread people out IMO

The RMU idea is intriguing. Having played beer league there I can tell you that the boards on the outdoor rink are very high and don’t give much, checking there would be brutal. It would be cool to see the classic outdoor rinks at the parks reopened for regular hockey. Maybe the Pens would do something like they did at Highmark Stadium a few years back (doubtful) if outdoor becomes the norm.

If you think the officiating is suspect now, wait until there’s one referee and zero linesmen managing a AAA game. Hope the zebras ate their wheaties. Perhaps they’d do a 2 man but with the primary focus being on the players and 25 people max I can’t see it.

Pitt’s D2 team folded this year. The D1 and boosters had to sell customized sublimated jerseys with the script logo (which are really cool) as a fund raiser. As an alum I wish the university supported the team more/at all. The lack of support goes back to the 90s at least. They played at Neville in South Side then Warrendale. Talk about far. I think that if the university wanted to have a D1 NCAA team they could. As was mentioned with an on campus/near campus rink the walk up support would be good with students and adults, families, alum, hockey fans. I’d snap up season tickets. I think Pitt’s ACHA 1 team was decent this year. I’ve seen some webcasts at Ohio U and Kent and the attendance is awesome. As far as announcing and live YouTube broadcasts go even WVU does that and has 2 camera angles etc and look at the dump they play in, they’re still trying to make it work. The D2 team plays in a pretty cool league with southern teams from MD, VA and NC. I’m not sure where I’m going with this please don’t flame me haha but Pitt hockey could certainly fill a 3000 or so seat building if there was an NCAA team but with this AD/past ADs it’s all about football and basketball as with many FBS schools.

I see what you mean, @The King I just meant there’s more pressure to “move on” with AAA than there is in high school. No disrespect to either group of players. I was unclear and vague.

Hannan’s too!

You and I must have played in the same era although I played PAHL A. there was just A, AA, and B. No gold or black or white or anything. I sound like an old fart but it’s pretty watered down now. And as someone said you have the sandbaggers who play down to get a banner. PAHL has a lot of flaws and a lot to fix, but if you read their meeting minutes they do a treasurers report and basically call it a meeting without many of the organizations don’t even bother to have a representative call in much less attend. It’s all about the buck. Hence 15 Squirt divisions or something ludicrous. I don’t think that an AAA league around here (although it’s a great idea) would fly because of the simple facts of 1. of what MyHockey rankings has done to the game. Too many people concentrate on “rankings” and schedules 2. Moreover and maybe most notably there’s an emphasis of travel with AAA teams to get the players into more hockey hotbeds for junior and college recruitment when many will end up quitting by the time they’re seniors from the pressure and grind and parents OR they’ll end up paying to play in ACHA D1. not to knock the players-some parents have delusions of grandeur and want that extra A and are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money and time to have that embroidered bag and windbreakers. Maybe playing high school hockey with your friends is more fun with way less pressure.

there’s a snowballs chance in hell I agree.

They’ll have to play with no students or parents in the stands. Fire up that LiveBarn feed, folks!

Late night skates—Probably happens at the Castle too. Not with youth players (hopefully) but you’d better believe people are using that ice.

That’s a shame about the Michigan hockey thing that was stated- the governor not allowing it. There are some really good and storied programs in Michigan like Little Caesars, Fox Motors, and Honeybaked.

It’s a shame all around but varsity was down to just 2 championship games and two semifinals games I believe. The seniors have to be crushed both on varsity and JV. At least the younger kids in JV and MS will play again for their schools (hopefully)

yeah I think that’s it for the year. Just down to bragging rights now for the PIHL. Who are the last teams standing, etc. there were some good matchups in store for fans too.

Just watch, all local rinks will close for awhile in April.... except Ice Castle — that is my prediction

Love this history and how you maintain it. Came up in the mid 90s, Meadville was a powerhouse. We would do a tournament every year at MARC and get our butts kicked. see that the PAHL is turning 60 next year. Is there any info or history for PAHL? How did it start, what organizations were established then, etc. keep up the great work!

Good lord I pay more than that for pre K for my youngest.

The guy that’s in charge is spearheading this. They play many AA opponents.

Surprised Armstrong didn’t win the 19u, they have beaten club college teams. Maybe they’ll make a run in nationals.