fafa fohi

Phase 1 of the current USHL draft is for 06's while Phase 2 appear to range from 02's to 05's. https://www.ushl.com/draft

Looks like Icemen U18 are having a supplemental tryout? If a “AAA” level team, let alone a AA team needs to have a supplemental and cannot fill a roster after tryouts that cannot be good. At this point they are simply trying to fill roster spots.

Allegheny had the most teams last season, with NP and Shaha just below them - all had 20+ teams.

To my knowledge they have never been a part of PAHL and play as an independent.

Dude goes to NC.

Whatever......... I mention ownership actually putting money into the facilities and the peanut gallery gets a chubby and piles on. They could have bought the rink and did nothing just as the previous owners did.

Yeah? Ask your kids what they think of the ice there - it's one of the best sheets of ice in this area. And I have been in worse rinks since their rebuild. That rink is ten times better than it used to be.

Besides the obvious - coaching and player development, skills sessions, travel schedule, cost, games played and schedule.......I would also throw ice time into the mix. Find out to see how many practice slots a week are offered, how many are shared vs hybrid vs full ice and at what times. Getting full ice sounds great, but a slot at 6am on a Saturday or Sunday morning in not what I would call ideal. And many teams have a fixed practice schedule - same day and time of the week, which makes things easier.

They play at the Frozen Pond off of Rt. 8. The place used to be the worst rink in PA, but DW and MF have poured a ton of money into that place and made huge improvements. Who could forget the urinal in the boys locker rooms that used to be located right in the middle of the room? As far as AA or AAA level they go into tryouts with the intention of playing at the AAA level but if the talent is not there they may play at the AA level as one of their teams did last year.

I deleted my original response to @Danner27 and the post above. Berating kids is, and I quote “that’s life?” What’s the point in wasting any more time on him?

I agree with @ice is cold It is one thing to voice your opinions on an organization and their transgressions as to how it is run, cost, travel, player selection process, coaching, etc. Opinions are expressed here to help others make somewhat of an educated decision as to where they would like their kids to play and at what level. But it is another thing when you call teenage kids suckers and bash them for joining whatever team they desire. You have a history of calling every other org outside of PPE as shit or "battle of the suck." I guess we are all jealous of your kids wondrous skill set and that our kids have not achieved the greatness your kid did. You have also said your kid have aged out, so what do you have to gain on this forum other than patting yourself on the back thinking you know everything about everything, all the while bashing underage kids? Get a life, a lady friend, another hobby, anything. Your act is beyond old and tired.

It is a tad pompous if that is their strategy. I know of no other organization in AA or AAA that cancelled tryouts after NOT winning a national championship. Last time I looked national champion SCIR 05's were holding both open skates and tryouts. Teams that win the Super Bowl, World Series or Stanley Cup are ALWAYS looking to upgrade.

Oh, so now PPE exists to send your kid to a “real junior league.” Yeah I’m sure that message is part of their corporate sell job.

Bottom line is the heralded PPE program is not producing what they are selling and advertising. While you and others continue to drool over the only true AAA program in town for a mere $30K a year, I am not seeing a huge difference on what they are achieving on the ice vs. those "faux AAA teams" at under $10K a year. It has been said here a million times - if you have the money go for it. My math skills are not great, but follow me on this. I calculated the following - PPE U14, U15 and U16 played 3-4 more games than those other AAA programs that went to Midams and did not qualify for Nationals - by going to Nationals PPE parents shelled out another $20 grand. That works out to be $5-7K more per game, not forgetting that top tier "development" they are getting at Lemieux for the price tag. Such a deal.

SHAHA went 2-1 this year, and Vengeance went 2-1 last year. But you keep on moving those goal posts.

Vengeance and SHAHA 06 have made Midams the last two seasons.

I never said anything about Icemen or Preds - SHAHA and Vengeance made Midams at 06 this season and the season prior at a fraction of the cost of the PPE spend. PPE develops players? In what way exactly? Are they really developing a kid that joined the team that played in FL or CA through Bantams? And I cannot seem to find any data on former PPE kids making NHL rosters while parents pay $120K+ for four years of NC high school, Excel and PPE fees. That is equal to two years tuition at a top university, or some pretty nice cars for said players to tool around in around Cranberry. But I guess it is worth it as long as they are "developed players." Respectfully, I disagree so I will leave it at that.

"Yes PPE might have failed at nationals but they still went."...........two at-large berths for U15 and U16 with nothing to show for it other than a participation trophy. Both went 1-2. And U18 never left Pittsburgh and U14 went 2-2. So I guess "we still went to nationals" is now the new tagline for PPE to hold over the "faux AAA" teams? lol

U18's, 06's and 08's for Esmark still going on. Anyone been at those tryouts that can comment on the turnout, etc? PPE U15, U16 and U18 are done - my guess is the contingent of western PA skaters shrunk yet again for the sake of adding out of town players. Call the other AAA teams "faux" all you want - all PPE teams did nothing at Nationals this past season and to my knowledge none of the boys teams made it out of pool play, particularly two teams that were gifted an at-large berth. All of this can be had for the low low price of $30K+ a year while dictating where your kid goes to high school.

They have removed 06 tryout dates and times from their website, and those that had registered for tryouts received an email they were not fielding a team and that tryout fees would be refunded. https://www.vengeancehockey.com

Some billet, some carpool.

Which would leave only 2-3 from Pittsburgh remaining on that team ( not counting the 07 if he plays up ) ....... ( edited from my original post indicating there was only one local kid remaining on 06 PPP )

Do not be so naive to think this does not happen at other levels ( and other sports ), as some of the top AA teams already have 75% or more of their roster locked in with returning players. Do you honestly think a kid that was on said AA team the prior year, had a good season and did just OK at tryouts that his spot would be in jeopardy? If a coach has coached a kid prior and has good history with that player, nothing earth-shattering will come from three one-hr tryout slots. At the AAA level organizations get a preview of what is coming at tryouts with those "invite only" open skates, and if the coach likes what he sees he connects with that kid with an offer to commit. Whether you like the process or not, that is the process.

Now that the 06 Vengeance is no longer, things just got a little more interesting for this BY.

Verified. Those that registered for tryouts received an email that they will not have an 06 team. The tryout dates / times have been removed from their website.