Danner27

3 hours ago, The King said:

What is it with all the focus on girls hockey in the region? Not saying it’s right or wrong but is the demand that great? I haven’t looked at WPA registration numbers but has the number of women’s players jumped that much to necessitate it? Good for them if it has but I bet a lot of this has to do with the culture. I’m sure the PPE focus is about the “celebrity” kids there but elsewhere I am willing to bet that it’s a way to make money and/or the SafeSport legislation is going to start making coed sports less desirable. Just my opinion  

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and a few parents with pull. The boys black teams are starting to fall apart, people realized they are paying tier 1 money for AA hockey. 

3 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

Fact - most PAHL teams play in 4-6 tournaments a year, covered by a mandatory team feel anywhere from $200-400, plus tuition fees of around $2,200-2,500.  So, roughly $3K plus hotel costs for two away tournaments puts you around $3,500.  PPE Black fees are the same as Gold fees from a tuition standpoint, around $5,500.  Additional fees for tournaments and travel expenses and you end up spending between $12-14K.  And if anyone with a player from a Black team cares to dispute this, please do.

Mind reading?  No, simply asking a parent the following - "so how much will you end up paying for a full season?"  It is not that difficult and it remains the right of any parent wanting to spend what they want on youth hockey.  

One who agrees with you = one with "an informed position."

Thanks for the laughs.

Not trying to jump in this argument just giving the both of you real numbers from a parent they paid the bills. one year that one of my kids played Pahl (Birth year AA) our season fees were $2800 (practiced twice a week) $200 for jerseys along with a $500 team fund for a grand total of $3500. We played 4 independent home games and three tournaments (one was a local hockeytime) along with the Pahl schedule. In comparison PPE (not the black team) cost me 5k in fees, esmark was similar. I can tell you that esmark’s travel cost were by far the highest. PPE with travel cost hit me around 9k esmark was close to 12k. At ppe we had more home games and got to play in the ushl showcase. We had very minimal home games at esmark. Hope this helps you two hash it out! 

here comes the next generation but it’s with girls. Two prominent employees of the pro team have younger girls that play hockey, along with the nhl ref who is coaching his own kids girls team next year. 

11 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

Or afraid of being embarrassed. 

Even if the 16s somehow lose the district, they will get one of the at large bids for nationals. I doubt they are fearing anything. They are just doing what’s best this season for a certain kid. 

1 hour ago, Hockey1 said:

For years, I have seen people on this board complain about the number of games, quality of teams and too much time being spent on the road/traveling spending money on travel hockey. So, now they play a limited game schedule, against top end talent, spending mostly two nights hotel vs three or four, and focusing more on development. Now they are “too good for commoners”? What do they gain by playing those teams? If they play them and beat them badly, they should have won. If they beat them and it’s close or lose? It’s a lose lose situation!

They are only focusing on development for 16s, why is that ? It’s not hard to figure out. 

personally, my feelings are PPE 16s will win the district. Maybe culver can beat them but that’s more than likely the only team that has a chance. PPE will win 15s with out any problems. 18s will be a toss up between the top 3. 

nobody has updated this topic, I will. The field is set at tier 1, this weeks rankings are the cut off. The district tournament will be held in Pittsburgh this year, March 4th - 8th. 
 

18s

1) Esmark 97.04

2) Culver Academy 96.64

3) Gilmour Academy 96.42

4) Ohio Blue Jackets 95.38

5) PPE 94,98

6) Cleveland Barons 94.56

16s 

1) PPE 97.88

2) Culver Academy 95.72

3) Sylvania North Stars 94.59

4) Esmark 94.39

5) Cleveland Barons 93.43

6) Pittsburgh Predators 93.19

15s

1) PPE 96.60

2) Ohio Blue Jackets 94.83

3) Cleveland Barons 92.11

4) Mt Lebanon Hornets 91.73

5) Tri-State Spartans 90.87

6) Esmark 90.51

good luck to all the burgh teams. Enjoy the experience, it goes by fast! 

On 12/14/2019 at 11:46 PM, Racchi’s Rug said:

I wonder how Esmark would fare against the USPHL Vengeance. Would be a close game IMO

esmarks 18’s would KILL that “faux” junior team. As bad as PPE 18s are they too would beat them. PPE 16s along with esmark’s 16s would also beat that team. High level tier 1 midget hockey is not even comparable to pay to play tier 3 junior hockey, you folks think tier 1 AAA hockey is watered down, go take a look at the tier 3 junior scene, it’s laughable. , look up the vengeance junior team and where those players have played, they are one of the better usphl teams, that should tell you a lot about tier 3. 

6 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

At this age, the worst thing you can do is turn your nose up to your son playing PAHL.  With the right organization and right coaches, your son will develop both from a social and hockey acumen standpoint.  There's lots of anabolic parents out there that feel their kid needs to wear the extra A, don't fall into that trap.  Convenience, cost and extent of travel are also things you should really consider.

 

Plenty of years ahead to consider AAA hockey as your son develops.

good advice and very true! 

3 hours ago, hockey07 said:

Well you know why they put the blue lights in the Sheetz bathroom in New Ken

https://archive.triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-sheetz-declares-success-with-blue-lights-to-deter-drug-use-2/

 

That entire area is a hellhole. Never understood why a rink was built there. It’s obvious I suppose. Extremely cheap land. As I stated above, my son went in after practice once and ended up in the middle of a robbery. I’m also pretty sure the bar / restaurant on the pia property just got nailed for food violations. Vermin crap on the open food, something like that, it was on the news.  Probably junkies preparing the food. 

this post was a straight advertisement. 

On 2/5/2020 at 6:07 PM, nemesis8679 said:

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. 

Sure if you don’t stop anywhere, just go straight to the rink but when your 17 year old son who drives himself to practice stops at sheets after practice and some junkies are robbing it, well take it from there. 

4 minutes ago, ClaytonBigsby said:

Why do so many on this board have an issue with Squirt and Peewee AAA teams?  Other than the obvious, that their kid couldn't make one.  If your kid is one of the top Pgh area kids in their birthyear, and you have the funds, why not let them practice and play with and against the other top kids?  The great thing about hockey is that kids get to play with other kids at their ability level.  Unlike every other sport where the top kids play, and the late bloomers or less talented ride the bench until they quit.  So, embrace it.  If your kid is one of the top players at 9-12, let them have the experience of playing against the best teams from the USA and Ontario.  God knows it could end at any time.

Are you saying that the AAA programs in Pittsburgh don't have midget teams?  

I did your handle. Go read some other threads on AAA and the midget age. 

1 hour ago, dropthepuck said:

Triple A, triple A, triple A. Nothing under Bantam should even be classified as such. Families of kids that are 9 should not be lured by these programs. Nothing wrong with dad coaches that volunteer to teach them how to play and have fun. I guess those days are over.

Hence the reason they don’t have midget teams. MOST parents have a better grasp for things at that age. Everyone on this board at some point in their child’s playing days thought their kid might have a chance,  Around bantam is when you realize how things will end. I can’t blame the vengeance, they are capitalizing on uneducated consumers. I will say this, TK is not even a good skills coach, he’s mediocre at best. Springer in that same building is WAY better, it’s not even close. 

2 hours ago, g8586 said:

oh my goodness that is so very impressive. Wow. “Had” is definitely the operative word. move on maybe? yes you are one sad and miserable dude for sure. and you have bad facts. sorry for you ...

Had, yes. He’s 19 now. Had for 3 years. Didn’t do excel. You mad bro ? Paying all that excel - nc money and your kid still can’t that yellow helmet. 

1 hour ago, g8586 said:

Not true. you are really one sad and pathetic and obsessed guy. 

I’m sad ? One of my kids had the yellow helmet. You are chasing that helmet probably harder than your own kid! The kid from north jersey DID not start the season on PPE. 

1 hour ago, Hockey1 said:

And he has been on the team since the beginning of the season.  Not October! JESUS!!!

He played for the north jersey avs in September, go look it up. Keep being delusional, maybe someday that gold helmet will come for you! 

10 hours ago, Hockey1 said:

I was talking  about the CURRENT 2003 team.  They will have a 40-50% turnover, especially 3-4 going to play Jr's somewhere, and one for sure going back home....  There will be zero 04's on the team.

No they won’t. The kid all this is about is not ready for the ushl and probably never will be. All the super duper high end 03s left this year for juniors, sure some of these currents will get junior offers but the left overs are not ready for major juniors. 

15 hours ago, Hockey1 said:

Since your in the "know" which one of those players # (no names) joined the team in October?  Because I think you are mistaking, look at their roster and everyone of those players have been on the team since the beginning of the season....

Jesus, maybe Jesus can get you a yellow helmet! The kid is Russian and came from the north jersey avs. Feel better or worse now ?  

1 hour ago, PuckHead7 said:

According to @Danner27, everyone should stay the F away from Chicago.  Last few comments are dumb and have nothing to do with hockey.

Awwww did I offend someone that lives in the shit hole area ? 

3 minutes ago, sadday4hockey said:

PIA has it's issues but it's not like the rink is in downtown New Ken. It's a New Ken zip code but it basically sits right on the border of Burrell.

its right there, have you ever been to that sheetz next to the rink after 8pm ? Drunks, junkies and criminals. Burrell - new Ken the ENTIRE area is ghetto. 

Here’s a con, stay away from PIA. Currently a swat team and shootings being shown on the news right now in new ken. cop killed 2 years ago there, junkies roaming the streets, lovely place.
 

41 minutes ago, OrrWhat said:

Seams as though their information is changing with the winds.  Or more like, changing as this thread moves on.  Any way you look at it, the end result will fit the narrative of the higher ups.  Require Excel, but not for these few kids. Require enrollment at NC, but not for these few kids.  Don’t even tryout, your kid isn’t making it anyway.  The couple spots that may be open are being taken up by the people that they are already in recruitment talks with.  Shame!!! 

This is true, they started the recruitment in the fall. One of the kids joined the 16s around October. 

Reading this message board here is what I’ve gathered about the predators. The 18s didn’t finish the season and disbanded, the 16s have some talent but have internal issues, no real coach, and will keep a kid around the team doesn’t want just to try and make the district tournament. The 15s flat out stink. Sounds like a great program. 

17 hours ago, Phil said:

The truth of why my goalie son QUIT the 16 U AAA Predators team was because there were 2 kids smoking weed - at tournaments, in the locker room at practice, etc... one of the kids that were caught, quit after they were both suspended - the other was brought back even though the team took a vote and only 2 kids wanted the suspended problematic player brought back.
 

The suspended player is well kown for his repeated disciplinary issues on the ice and the bench, in the locker room and repeated drug use. The coach made the decision to bring him back anyway and said if anyone doesn't like that decision, they can leave. My son chose to leave, the night that the player was brought back. He said his goodbyes, shook hands with his teammates , wished them well, and we left Ice Castle.  The team captain also quit, for the same reasons. 

That’s correct - my son chose to quit. He wasn’t thrown off by the coach - he wasn’t pulled off by my wife or myself - he quit and we supported that decision 100%. We are proud of his decision. Some parents on the 16u AA TEAM were allegedly told that my son was thrown off of the team. That is 100% false. I want the record set straight. 
 

This is 100% factual - so much so that I am not anonymous. My name is Phil Isaly. My sons name is Ethan. We will never play for the Predators Organization again. You all can make up your own mi

Holy sheet this topic really brings in the north catholic cronies praying cardinal whorl will come out of witness protection and bring their kids yellow helmets! Maybe if you guys coughed up another 20k to the penguins foundation (One local 04 family did) you’ll get that desired yellow helmet!