Danner27

2 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

Remember the premise that The King and Danner27 were the same person?

Anyone?

Also, haven't seen the Michigan board but the one that was removed about 10 years ago for Ontario and mainly the GTHL was the most insanity I've ever seen. Not only do they take the game seriously, they also take being ruthless seriously as well.

 

Pretty sure most here knew who the king was - thus the reason he requested all his posts taken down. 
 

I disliked the guy here but some times his posts were spot on. 

20 minutes ago, RJUSHL said:

You mean the Esmark teams that are worse than their current SHAHA, Preds, or Vengeance teams?

It is kinda crazy that for BY 06-09 SHAHA has better teams than Esmark. SHAHA must be doing something right.

Nobody is scouting shaha. It’s been happening for years. The shaha tier 2 bantam national champs a few years ago fractured in half when midget came, some of those kids went to esmark. A few of them have since made real junior teams.
 

 At midget ppe>esmark>everyone else. 
 

5 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

Carl didn't you previously say that it will be interesting when the rankings come out? All people are doing here is getting an initial gauge. Most of these teams have 5-10 games in so there is already some good data. But yes, the rankings will get more accurate over the course of the season.

The interesting thing to me is how often Preds and SHAHA teams are ranked higher than Esmark. I'm not saying anything bad about Esmark, but I think this just shows that the talent/depth in the south hills is way stronger than anywhere else in the city. A tier 1 organization in the south would do ridiculously well.

Half of the Pens, Esmark, and Vengeance teams are south hills kids driving crazy distances. And then there is still enough talent left in the south hills to field Preds and SHAHA teams that rank higher than Esmark.

Until midget when all those south hills kids head to esmark if they can’t make ppe. 

1 hour ago, Danner27 said:

Didn’t realize it’s that time of the year already! Take a look at midget minor & midget major. Culver hasn’t played enough games yet, they will take a top 6 spot for the tournament. As usual the vengance & predators are already out of the tournement sitting in dead last. No icemen this year ? 

Didn’t realize it’s that time of the year already! Take a look at midget minor & midget major. Culver hasn’t played enough games yet, they will take a top 6 spot for the tournament. As usual the vengance & predators are already out of the tournement sitting in dead last. No icemen this year ? 

M1 homepage, M1 rankings. 
M2 homepage, M2 rankings. 
 

the official rankings, nationals etc are classified as M. 

40 minutes ago, DieHardLeafs said:

This is why I hate this message board, people just say things randomly and believe they are always right.

If you look at Danner's first statement. "Let’s clarify something since I’m so dumd. In the acha it’s not “D” it’s “M”. So everyone needs to stop with this acha d1 crap. It’s acha m1 - it’s m for men because it’s club, the ncaa wants no confusion. ".

Well he says it. He is dumb (which he could not spell correctly). Go to the ACHA website. They call it ACHA Men's D1 (https://www.achahockey.org/) If you want to listen to anything else he ever says there are no facts. Just his opinions. He apparently knows someone who knows someone....

There are 84 current D3 teams, and most are not in this area, so you can't judge them all from Chatham (which apparently he could not even spell correctly either).

Assuming you will delete or edit your message when you realize you are completely wrong. 
 

4 hours ago, DieHardLeafs said:

As making a D3 roster is HARD, unless as you say (though you never offer or show any proof) you are independently wealthy enough to pay for a spot. Ask any kid who does it, it is not easy (but apparently Danner knows all). The coaches are usually highly selective, most D3 rosters are ex Tier 1 and 2 players with the top of Tier 3 to round out the teams.

Yes you are correct the top ACHA teams usually are better, but if you actually knew hockey you would also point out the usual process of going D1 comes from ACHA, look at ASU and the current teams going through the process. Hence THOSE ACHA teams are even more selective to get into. Furthermore, up until I believe two years ago some ACHA teams even gave out sports scholarships to further entice kids to play for them.

Lastly, though many people talk about the costs. If a D3 team wants you, you almost always get merit scholarships so you get to go to a small private college for about 5K a year.

Let’s clarify something since I’m so dumd. In the acha it’s not “D” it’s “M”. So everyone needs to stop with this acha d1 crap. It’s acha m1 - it’s m for men because it’s club, the ncaa wants no confusion. 

NCAA D3 - 75% of these schools you wouldn’t want to send your kid there for an education, let alone the enormous cost. There are no althetic scholarships, there are some merit scholarships available, it doesn’t amount to much. None of the kids qualify for financial aid. These kids only qualify for real academic success money. Look at Chattam - I would consider them better then half the ncaa D3 schools when it comes to eduction standings. They are middle of the road when it comes to hockey. They barely got past the IUP M1 team last year. I know 3 kids playing ncaa d3 hockey, nice kids & families, I’ll leave it at that. Look at buffalo state college - ncaa d3 hockey.  one of the better schools in this tier when it comes to education. When the ncaa eligibility is up, their players move to the club team while they are still finishing their degree. The club team doesn’t even play in acha, they play in the chf. At this point these ex ncaa d3 players are 23-24-25-26 years old playing against CHF teams with 18-21 year olds that played anything from A minor youth hockey up to tier 1. You would think the Buffalo kids would light up the lowly CHF ? Nope. 
 

as for the big acha M1 teams giving scholarships to get players - it was never a lot of money. A few thousand under merit - leadershio scholarships. Tack on out of state tuition and it really didn’t do much. Those days are also over. Lindenwood started this trend years and years ago. Thier entire conference started to do it to compete. Everyone complained about it. It all came to end right before covid. creative financial aid (this depend on the kids family income) or aid due to your kid having incredible test scores and great grades is all that’s available. these are also available to any student that qualifies.
 

We have friends playing for unlv, asu, Oklahoma & Adrian. I can ensure you none of these kids are receiving money to play club hockey. They do have some perks you won’t find around here such as Tutors while away, note takers in class like ncaa kids, free sticks etc. 
 

one of lindenwood’s better players a few years back is a family friend, he has since graduated. He came in at the end of the fake scholarship program. His family was still paying more than what any instate tuition would have been for them.  He left a ncaa d3 program for lindenwood M1 for multiple reasons. He was tired of being under the ncaa rules, it made it hard to get his school work done. The level of hockey at lindenwood along with the teams they played was superior. The acedmics were a joke at the ncaa d3 college he started at. 

I should add - don’t let your kid pick a college based on the hockey program. College should be picked based on the fit for the kid, acedmics,  cost for your family etc. 

acha 1,2 & 3 are not all that much different once you get passed the top acha programs - none reside in western pa. There are good and bad teams in all the classes. 

30 minutes ago, DieHardLeafs said:

Just to add to this list (and I am sure I am missing others from the 00, 01 birth years):

NCAA Div. 1 

Cade Webber - The Rivers School, BCHL, Boston University (drafted Hurricanes) 

Cameron Recchi - Cushing Academy, BCHL, Univ. of St. Thomas 

 

NCAA Div. 3 

Richard Boysen – Skipjacks, NAHL, Trinity College 

Ryan Brown – Predators, NCDC, Hamilton College 

Wyatt George – Predators, OJHL, Babson College 

Sawyer Smith – Shady Side, EHL, Arcadia University 

Tanner Daniels – Pens Elite, NAHL, Hobart College 

Michael Heller – Barons, USPHL Premier, New England College 

Branwen Pollett – Predators, NA3HL, Nichols College 

Jordan Rosenbaum – Pens Elite, USPHL Premier, SUNY-Brockport 

Christian Colantonio - Trinity-Pawling School, EHL, Hamilton College

 

(FYI 01 Players from Pittsburgh area that used to play PAHL – 1 NHL draft, 5 D1, 6 D3) 

 

I agree almost all of these kids played PPE at some point. However, many also played your "faux" AAA and even played Tier 3 Jr's. Regardless what the people on here keep stating it is not about ego (or the parents ego), it is about the kids and their desire to play the game and take it as far as they can. If you want real info on Jr's do not listen to the trolls on here, but go to the leagues websites, follow players and see their progression, or even talk to the kids themselves about their journey.

Remove ncca d3 and the numbers change dramatically. If you have the money it’s not hard to make ncaa d3. The “elite” acha teams would pound on those ncaa d3 teams. Iup club almost beat Chattam ncaa d3 last year.  I’ll add most of the ncaa d3 schools are stupid expensive, sports are bait to lure families to pay. 

9 hours ago, Icebucket said:

While I know those local clubs do not require junior hockey, I talk to a few of the head coaches of those teams fairly regularly and the consensus between them is that the kids who play tier 3 juniors are significantly more prepared. It's nothing to do with the talent and completely based on maturity, responsibility, accountability and the ability to play a more physical game. The ones only play midgets typically take at least a full season to adjust.

I could care less where people decide to play, just passing along what I have been told by a few of the local coaches.

Look at iup‘s team one this year, 6 or so freshman right out of HS made the team. 2 esmark, a few faux aaa programs along with Pahl aa. 
 

Unless your kid is trying to make team 1 at schools like Adrian, unlv, Arizona, Ohio, liberty etc - it doesn’t matter much. 

10 hours ago, Puck01 said:

I was just reviewing the USHL tournament in Pittsburgh for the 16UAAA. Noticed there are 26 teams but no SHAHA anyone know why they are not included? I would assume the Pens would want revenge? Does PPE organize this or have any say in what teams are invited? At least the Barons are included.

I replied earlier, not sure why it didn’t take. 
 

if nothing has changed, ppe is just the host. The ushl puts on this promotion showcase for their leauge. They do a few of these a year in different cities. They only invite the “top” youth programs. The ushl coaches and scouts will be there. This is another reason in a long list why PPE is where your kid needs to play in western pa if you or your kid think they have a chance at anything after youth hockey. I don’t really like saying it, it’s just the truth. 

1 hour ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

Once again. Why do you care what others do with their time and money? And once again, there are plenty of kids that realize that tier 3 juniors isn’t going to lead to NCAA hockey, but they want to play and that is their opportunity. 

You compleltly missed his point - those of us with aged out kids that have been through it, try to offer advice so others don’t get sucked into a money pit or have their expectations or dreams crushed. 

3 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

Maybe not the NAHL? That's pretty good hockey where a few of the players do move on to USHL or NCAAD1.

Nahl is a tier 2 junior league - not pay to play. On average the top 3 players on each nahl team have a legitimate chance. 

During the argumentive process please keep this in mind - 16-18 (midget) the landscape has changed the past few years. The top kids are all gone to real juniors. The mid level kids are now falling for the tier 3 juniors garbage. 18U doesn’t have the quality of players as it did just 2-3 years ago. It’s starting to trickle down the 16U. 
 

my kids plays AAA (faux) hockey! 
Well my kid plays JUNIOR (faux) hockey!

7 hours ago, Seejay784 said:

My son is an 06 and decided to leave his faux AAA team this year and just do PAHL AA because of the travel. He's at the age of girlfriend,  job, high school life. After 10 games so far, his biggest takeaway besides the slower speed of the game is the ice quality in the 3rd. He can't understand why Tier 1 and High School the ice gets cut after the 2nd period but Tier 2 just has to go out and deal with sloppy conditions that 100% affect the way you have to play. Maybe if you want more bubble AAA/AA kids to stay in AA start treating Tier 2 the same as Tier 1. As minor as some think that might be, it tells you right off the bat that Tier 2 is second rate.

To get back to your point about who's  AAA and who's not. There are really two levels.  Tier 1 Elite (top 30) then Tier 1 everyone else. The very top AA Tier 2 teams can probably hang with the very bottom Tier 1 AAA teams. But that is a really small overlap. There is nothing wrong with kids who want to play better competition and travel more opt for the extra A. They might not be playing Shattucks and Pens Elite but they'll get to play other Tier 1 teams that are on the same level such as Indy Jr Fuel, Jr Hurricanes, Etc. 

that’s not really a tier 2 problem (ice cuts) that’s the clubs and leauges. Many other area tier 2 clubs & leagues do two ice cuts. It’s More of a Pahl issue not wanting to buy that extra 20 minutes I suppose. You would figure they could squeeze it in since the periods are shorter. Once kids get to bantam, imo - there should always be a second ice cut. regardless of level. Sometimes the ice can get dangerous, most of the time it slows the game in the 3rd period. 

5 hours ago, Carl Racki said:

Amen sir!  Well written.  My point is now at that 2007 birth year you have the new AAA Preds, AAA Icemen, SHAHA  AAA and Vengeance AAA that all should be playing PAHL AA.  It is a fast  growing problem in the area. Same thing happened with the 2009 group.  You had the 2009 SHAHA go AAA and Preds go AAA this year.  The really sad part is the 2009 Pred and SHAHA then put two horrible A level teams in the PAHL AA division.  They are A level teams that will water down AA and more teams will then follow to the "I am an independent AAA team because I did so well in PAHL.  Very well said above

Same sh!t, another year. 

On 9/17/2022 at 8:20 AM, Saucey said:

Hahaha so the ultimate butt hurt guy making his own team when his kid didn't make the team he thought he should be on. Sigh. Except he has more money.

The chicago steel changes owners hands constantly along with investors. Matt Barnaby exposed this on his podcast a few years back when his (former pro dad kid) got screwed by the the newest investors brought in to make way for their kids lol. Honestly barnaby’s kid wasn’t ushl material but the info he gave out with names etc was a big eye opener. None of those kids deserved to be there. One of them got so much icetime it was almost ludicrous. He was put on the PP with the real players to try and pad his stats. 

1 hour ago, RJUSHL said:

That's interesting. As far as a I can tell they haven't taken over any of the amateur organizations at the rinks they own in WPA but it could just be a matter of time. Who knows.

3 of their investors in the jersey - Philly area had kids play for team Maryland tier 1 then move onto the Maryland Black Bears (nahl) 2 of these 3 kids are no better than any western pa AA players. The company is called black bear because they first thing they purchased was the Maryland black bears nahl team. At some point BB had involvement with the New Jersey titans of the nahl, ex flyer Jim Dowd was involved, he used this model to get both of his kids into the ushl. One of his kids is pretty good the other not so much, this is were the business model came from. 

9 hours ago, hockeyisgreat said:

Thanks for the info.  They are obviously much more concentrated in Eastern Pa & New Jersey.  I wonder how many rinks they think they need to own in SWPA & Ohio before they make a move to a Western Division.  Anybody know how long they have been in the Ice Rink business?

Black Bear started as a bit of a pyramid business model. That have a lot of ex pro investors in each city that are usually partners when they purchase. This is due to BB buying junior teams (real junior hockey) and the ex pro’s wanting their kids to have an inside path to climb. I can’t speak for what they have bought in western pa, I don’t follow deep enough anymore. 
 

On 9/14/2022 at 7:44 PM, carroll81 said:

My experience with BB operations in the East is that they do not rush in to update the rink.  Unless there is some kind of emergency, don't get your hopes up for any updates this season.  Maybe next year. 

There is sort of an emergency, if someone were to put carbon dioxide meters in that rink nobody would be allowed in. New Zamboni is needed assp. 
 

the boards are dangerous, that’s why the pros would not play the exhibition game after the rink won the Kraft hockeyville contest. 

100% confirmed to me the other day, BB does own it. This should be good for that old place. Real Zamboni ? Doubt that anything can be done with the concrete boards. 

I have to ask. Mario’s kid. Morehouse kid - now they are really pushing girls hockey. who high up with political & financial pull has a girl playing ? 

as for PPE in general - this will be the hundredth time I’ve posted it here - it’s still the best program in western pa if your kid has any real junior hockey or beyond aspirations. esmark midget is a distant second. It doesn’t give me any joy in making that statement. I watched a lot of shady things happen in the years my boys played up there, most of it was for a certain kids birth year but it did trickle to other birth years a bit. 

59 minutes ago, nemesis8679 said:

It would be interesting to know if they replaced that Penguin logo on the jersey, didn't have the name "Penguins" involved at all, lost the fancy arena,  snack bar, and fireplace and played in a typical area arena, how much oooohhhhing and aaaawwwing about them would disappear. 

That was called the hornets, the program was very successful with half the bs. 

49 minutes ago, twoboys said:

This is the type of information that some parents would like to have.   Why don't you name some advisors.   A local one for many is better than an out of state one. 

Because the local guys I know who do it are let’s just say not worth your money with out slandering them. JDM is a national group and by far the best at this stuff. If you really want to put out that kind of money contact them. 
 

like I said, starting around 15U these guys are at every big tournament looking for players. It’s impossible these days not to be approached by them if your kid is half decent.