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"He may be, but I am saying that there are other AAA teams in PGH and the country with players that are playing on a AAA team and are not AAA Players." Lets get real here - to the disappointment of the many proud parents that peruse this domain with their kids on "AAA" teams, the reality is this.........outside of PPE, PPE Gold at the lower ages and a couple of Esmark teams, there are no other AAA level hockey teams in western PA. Your organization can call it whatever it wants, and for any of those teams that think playing an Independent Tier 1 schedule makes them AAA, prepare yourself for a long, long season. And you will have nobody to blame but yourselves by feeding into this pipe dream. Anabolic parents are what is ruining an experience their kids should be embracing and enjoying. Is it worth it to go 2-40 ( a certain North Hills team two seasons ago did just that when they didn't belong at AAA level ) just so you can wear org schwag with an extra A on it? Drop the ego, suck it up and be OK with your player playing PAHL at a AA or A Major Black level. Its OK, your friends and family will not think any less of YOU. Ever wonder why these "AAA teams" don't put PAHL AA teams on their schedule? Because the organization would look horrible if they lost to a dreaded PAHL team. All I hear is the kids that make up most of these AAA imposter teams are kids that didn't make PPE or made Black and turned down the spot because they didn't make Gold. Lastly, remember this game is about the kids, not about you or whom you get to brag to about the level your kid is playing.

The initial post on this thread from @Loach was regarding U14 Bantam for PAHL. Icemen and PPE don't play in PAHL, both play as independents so you lost me on your "list."

This may change a little but here is a starting point: Allegheny Badgers (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Butler Valley Dawgs (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Mon Valley Thunder (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Mt Lebanon Hornets (#1) 05 AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 North Pittsburgh Wildcats (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Pittsburgh Arctic Foxes (#1) 05 AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Pittsburgh Predators (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Pittsburgh Vipers Stars (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 South Hills Panthers (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Steel City Ice Renegades (#1) AA PAHL Bantam AA Major 0-0-0 0.00 Westmoreland Eagles (#1) 05 AA

There is nothing wrong with paying $8-10K to NOT see your kid practice. This sad story is getting worse by the day.

We have heard this song before, many many times. Johnny gets cut from PPE, and the parents snub their nose at PAHL because one A is missing and AA is beneath them (not the player, the parent). Said delusional parent then hears about so and so organization is forming a AAA team............filled with many kids that were cut from PPE but yes, that extra A is good so the parents can brag to their friends that Johnny plays AAA hockey. I am not dissing the players in any way on this - this is all on the parents. Lets stop the nonsense and call these other programs what they are - glorified AA programs. Outside of PPE ( gold in lower age divisions ) and a couple of higher age Esmark teams, there are no other AAA teams in western PA.

A few things I noticed on the 2019-20 alignments: QV Varsity only with no JV or MS, Knoch went from V last season to now JV this upcoming season, NC Varsity and two MS teams with no JV, Mars MS moved from Tier 2 to 3, Indiana no JV and PR V moving up to AAA ( where they belong ).

Thanks @Ynot02

I heard PIHL has announced the division / tier structure for all levels - MS through Varsity for the upcoming season but I cannot seem to find anything on their website. Anyone out there have some insight?

@Eddie Shore "the longer you delay the learning process, the worse the effect will be in the older age groups (you are just creating a snowball effect), it will go up and get worse due to larger, stronger players not knowing the correct way to play." That is the best quote on this topic that I have read on this entire thread.

Your son's school needs to be brought up to speed on MS hockey as there is no hitting. It is one of the reasons why some parents with smaller and less skilled players are more open to MS hockey vs PAHL.

Aww, so so cute. You get off by “likes” and people agreeing with you. Being a pompous ass towards others doesn’t make a thread more interesting - genuine thought does. You make some valid points, unfortunately it sometimes gets lost in your hostility and constant marveling at yourself. i would hate to see the mirrors in your home, all crusted with a glaze-type substance.

"Hockey propaganda" - now you have gone full Trump. I see a lot of similarities between you and him - keyboard warrior, always right even when facts stare you in the face, thinks you are smarter than anyone else in the room. SNAP! I will take the word from a family that went through the process and had a kid drafted 5th, rather than angry dad who has admittedly not have one single kid play hockey in western PA. I never knew diarrhea could actually come out of a persons mouth then transformed into words on a thread, as I thought it was medically impossible - congrats for proving me wrong. ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz........... ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz........... Your filibustering does nothing other than make me laugh. Wake me when it's over.

Aww, how cute. “Grapehead”....you just can’t help yourself by insulting me and others when it comes to challenging anything you say. I provided an actual quote, not opinion or conjecture and this is your comeback? If there is a dissenting opinion different from yours you immediately get on your soap box, insult others and insist you are right. Have you ever thought about just accepting the fact everyone doesn’t agree with you and move on? “Stay in your lane”...........at least you are good for some laughs in between your anger management med treatments.

I think the family of Alex Turcotte, the #5 pick of this years draft has a different opinion of USA Hockey than yours.

Did anyone notice of the 59 American players that were chosen in this years NHL draft, only one player from PA was selected? One? The hockey hotbed that is Orange County, CA had three........the state the size of all Primanti Bros. restaurants combined - RI had the same as PA. Chum is now in the water. Commence feeding.

You gotta love the “you’re pissed off because your kid got cut” response.......... @Hockey4all I know most of what you posted is in fact, true.

Don't tell that to the parents paying ten grand or more for AA type hockey with a cool PPE sticker on their vehicle with sweet warmups and gear bags. It was only this past season when some PAHL teams were beating PPE Black teams.

Go figure.......

I have heard the same. One parent I spoke to whose son was cut by PPE said in not so many words that PAHL AA was beneath them and their son would only play for his school. Pretty pompous if you ask me.

I had heard of at least two orgs were short on 05 talent and in lieu of having an 05 BY team they went with an 05/06 mixed team..........anyone know if this is true or not?

"Basic, necessary improvements. Certainly not huge improvements. My understanding is that most of the remaining HS teams can't wait until their contracts expire so they can bolt. BV has been shaken down to what, half of what it was before the purchase? Pretty soon they'll have exactly what they wanted which is a rink all for themselves. Just the two of them. Take it away, Grover Washington.................." HS teams wanting to bolt........bolt to where? Where are they going to find ice time? Baierl? No way. UPMC? If they want 6am practice slots I am sure those are available. Neville? Nada.

Let's not forget a new snack machine was considered an improvement by prior management.

I give credit to MF, DW and the rest of the ownership group as they have made huge improvements there, inside and out. And the ice surface remains one of the better ones in western PA.

For tournaments in the PA/OH/WV area here are two groups for you to look into. Most are within driving distance from western PA and there are deals to be had if you book two or more travel tournaments with one group. https://www.itshockeytime.com/index.asp http://www.bigbeartournaments.com https://nahockey.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImMX2_du-4gIVTiOGCh34NAiPEAAYASAAEgLXAPD_BwE