fafa fohi

lol - good to see things are off to a great start.

I was at Tuesday’s games and I saw a consistent drop off of overall talent amongst all of the teams compared to last year’s group. Is it because most of the 06’s that has been a deep age group graduated and have moved on with only a handful of them left in a sea of underclassmen?

St. Marg's starts this week but it has been rather quiet leading into this tournament. With the expansion of the field where there are now six divisions of four teams in each, who are the favorites? I know graduation could take a top tier team from last year to a middle of the pack team the following year. https://www.pihlhockey.com/page/show/8642167-2024-sm-fall-face-off-2024-st-margaret-fall-face-off-

Now that was funny - well done.

Time spent by PB managing this form is not free - time is money. Everyone here provides lots of “free content” yet you are here soliciting for tournaments and I do recall you also used this forum to post endless times on promoting your book. Go to the tournament directors and ask them to pay for the cost of the post. That is unless, you have a slush fund generated by said tournament directors contributing to it from your “contributions” here?

There are schools that have been on the waiting list for over five years wanting to enter the St. Margaret's tournament. Any word of expanding the field of teams to include more schools?

His kid is seven years old. Looks like we found the anabolic hockey parent I was referring to - thanks for revealing yourself @twoboys. Then again your comments are so lame you might be trolling. Difficult to tell.

@newhockeydad "I have personally thought that North Pittsburgh has done a great job with my son. He really enjoys that coaches and everyone at the rink. He also made a lot of friend's through hockey that don't go to his school." That quote says it all. Your son appears to be having fun, he's making new friends and developing as a hockey player and the rink is at a convenient location. If he keeps playing hockey in his later years, there is plenty of time for him to play on a travel team as U10 is just a year away. There are anabolic parents out there that think their 7-8 year old needs numerous tournaments home and away at that age which doesn't guarantee player development. If you see your son's skill level progressing then he is in a good spot. And don't be afraid to ask his coaches about areas he can work on his game, especially from a dryland standpoint. Good luck to you and your son.

Hmm, my bad.

@James Gatz edited. The Yetis ( formerly Butler Valley Dawgs ) have always had a strong Mite program and is suited for those that want their player to have limited local travel via jamborees. NP is more of a house league where teams play each other. Both are respected programs and you can't go wrong with either one at this age.

lol Lazy is not the same as winning now is it? Or maybe you haven't been watching any PIHL playoff games of late? Or do you see Varsity hockey as developmental? If you do just say it. And if anyone can just roll two lines as you say, how many state titles or Pens Cups have you won as head coach? My guess is anyone doing as such has a secure spot at that school as a HC.

From what I have seen teams “pacing” all four lines rarely ever beat one team heavily leaning on the top two lines in PIHL. Varsity hockey coaches are doing that for a reason as it gives them the best chance to win, whether you agree with it or not. Hockey at the varsity level is not developmental hockey like JV or MS where it is all about equal playing time.

I have watched a lot of PIHL games and I have seen coaches get "out coached" quite often, and IMO it is because of the disparity between skill levels. There is a significant drop off from a PIHL teams #1 and #2 lines compared to lines #3 and #4. I have seen coaches roll four lines while others play their top 2 lines 85% of the game with the 4th line not sniffing the ice which creates a lot of mismatches. And I have seen those that were "out coached" and rolling four lines not adjust to what the other team is doing during any point of the game. In higher level club hockey such as AAA and AA, the disparity of talent is significantly less.

Taibi

Injured players wearing a helmet that were on the bench during the game are allowed on the ice for the end of game handshake line. Dude didn't throw punches or get involved in the on-ice mess.