HockeyFan6687

What organizations in the region do tryouts the best? What are some of the things that are done to make that particular organization good? What organizations do not so good and why? I think presentation is the most crucial aspect. If it looks bad to the naked eye even if it was done with integrity and fairness, a bad presentation can sink a ship! It seems in some places that the tryout for the top team is a formality. Teams selected at open skates. Prospective players buddying up with the coach while on the ice. it says a lot to have your tryout results before your vehicle hits the driveway of your home Just curious how other organizations do it. Always hear a lot of feedback this time of year just curious what everyone else has seen heard and experienced.

Seeing how tryouts went this year and particularly at 09 so I’m seeing and hearing that a bunch of the Esmark AAA kids that lost their team ended up on the Allegheny team. How much does Black Bear have an influence on that from the top down being that both rinks, the organizations and management as well as organizations involved all seem to be linked together in multiple ways? Think of the competitive advantage that gives black Bear. When one rink is short players at a given level they can simply shift em around to make top contending teams. It then creates a major issue of competitive integrity and leaves a lot of PAHL organizations at non BB rinks at a competitive disadvantage.

God forbid their kids play on a lowly A team. It would ruin their careers.

A lot of programs cutting talented kids that were loyal to their program or returning kids that have been there for a time for some AAA players looking to shack up for a year until next season’s AAA opportunity comes along. Is it really worth it? Also heard some of the tryouts at various places were nothing but a formality as the teams were picked ahead of time. Erich’s, morals, loyalty and honesty take a back seat to the prospects of winning a national championship. just remember how the Rangers tried to load up and win a cup. See how that works. Not sure how that will go but it will be some interesting matchups in the league this year.

So when all these AAA kids move in and displace good players who are loyal to their organization, is it really the right thing to do and load up with all these outsiders when the odds favor the one and done scenario where next year’s AAA opportunity will be their next destination?? In the process you’ve lost a nucleus of your team but you potentially have lost the talent LOYAL to your organization. Thus losing the ability to field a given birth year. is blowing your load to be all in on the obsession of going to nationals worth it for your organization if it means losing the long term viability to ice a competitive team of LOYAL players that can have a shot year in and year out? I think some organizations are potentially playing with fire.

Anyone know how the Huskies tryouts have gone this far? Seems like a risky business decision to do this.

Just out of curiosity… has there been any discussion with PAHL about BB and the possibility of organizations being “owned” by the rink/BB as a for-profit entity? I would think that would have been mentioned before tryouts and maybe it has for all I know. The fact that youth sports has pretty much become a business is creating a potential negative direction and pricing some families right out of the game. It’s sad.

How do you obtain all of this information? That’s more coverage than NHL preseason!

Don’t forget the work he did with W Graeme Roustan trying to run a network of ice rinks including one in Johnstown, then the two of them who tried to take over all Cambria County Ice Rinks and the Johnstown ECHL team. Their rinks all closed and the team was run into the ground.

So based on these players intentions, they’ve already made the Badgers or whatever other team they are going to? Kind of defeats the purpose of trying out don’t ya say? Or do these teams get picked ahead of time. it’s always amazed me how much information some individuals have about the “free agent” player movement of these kids and the whole low down on what each team is with their rosters and who the favorites are for at this time next year. I could have thought I was reading about the NHL but then I realized we are talking about 13-14 year olds. I think it takes a lot of free time obsessing over trivial matters such as this. It’s a kids game. Better to sit back and enjoy watching the games.

If the AHF is run anything like it’s clone the EJEPL, you are in for what makes a schedule with little or no time off all season. It would be preferable to stay with PAHL and tournament play. Read the AHF Facebook page. It’s full of endless complaints. Appears to be very poorly run. when you are the monopoly and the money is flowing, why care? Bottom line, youth sports is a business these days.

What is the intended goal of this when there will be mid to low level A players on it with little experience? It’s really a shame these days that these “experts” are taking advantage of families that really have no clue what they are really getting into and for the ridiculous expense. The hockey system is broken. Integrity is sacrificed for $$$$.

There are kids there that should not be AAA. It ruins the credibility of their program.

I’m not sure there was bashing going on but there was some constructive discussion about the direction of the program. How come the constant bashing of the pens elite is allowed but come close to bashing the mustangs and it’s shut off?

Knowing what I do I highly doubt that Dave Weaver would bend the rules. Sam probably got his games in very early and met the requirements before heading to where he was going for the season. During those years I’m told there was much attention to compliance. If it’s not the Pittsburgh team winning they get their panties in a wad. There is more to Western PA than just Pittsburgh. The mustangs were successful in very different times than we have now. There’s more AAA, AA and Junior opportunities out there than before. A program is doomed if its philosophy is “this is how we have always done it”. The key to longevity is being able to self evaluate yearly and adapt to the market. What can you do differently that makes your program more attractive? The program has a great history and I’m sure nobody wants it to fade so perhaps a good hard look at tearing it apart and assessing top to bottom to see where things can change and improve.

Albeit this has been done before I think tournament teams are slowly fading. The AA level PAHL teams are already playing an extended schedule starting with summer practice and games and tournaments running into August and running through til March. I think kids on A teams that don’t go as full tilt are where most of the interest will come from. Is the concept still helpful to player development when you may get to play and practice with AA kids on AA teams for a brief period with the rest wrapped around A teams with A players and potentially lesser coaching. I think if you really elevate your game then development at the higher level should be 100% of the time. More can be accomplished with one team one roster one coach plus the chemistry and brotherhood that comes with staying together. what are the differences between this and the state college version of this running under the name Keystone Wild? Perhaps two programs 40 miles apart in an area that’s not rich in numbers is a bit much?

So here’s a good question… if USA Hockey forbids member organizations to run full ice mite and basically not follow the ADM which doing so can result in sanctions to your program the how is this not what they are doing? BB is taking over USA Hockey member programs in its rinks and also pushing these full ice AAA programs despite calling it another name and registering under AAU….is this not a major issue having all of this intermixed? also what happens in a few years when either A) BB starts shutting under performing rinks or B) they’ve stretched beyond their means and ends up belly up with a lot of rinks out of business? is the monopoly really a good idea?

They got the Mite AAA market exploding in East!

If PAHL doesn’t keep running the same old school crap it’s going to be in a very bad spot with all the competition for leagues and independent teams. “This is how we’ve always done it” is a kiss of death.

This is what they want on the road to total non-check hockey.

Mid-Am is nothing more than a good ole boys club of politicians that will never change. Know the right person or kiss the right ass and you may get an opportunity. They all love their titles that make them feel and look important. Not to mention the fancy sport coats they wear with the USAH logo emblazoned on them. It’s really a shame these tournaments have no promotion, a trash website and no real atmosphere that you are at something big. It’s a big deal for these kids so why not put a little extra effort in and give these kids something special.

Especially in the days of Dave Weaver. He booked the refs!

Organizations don’t have control as before and pretty much every rink has “homer” refs. Just ask any visiting parent. I think it’s very unfair to place the kids in the middle of your slanderous comments.

I think you make a lot of great points. While I have my suspicions of BB sports monopolizing the market, it could do some good. I do believe there are some other rinks throughout the PAHL footprint that could use a very thorough house cleaning. I think the corporate non-parent sector joined with the “right” parents and volunteers could make a viable team. There’s always been politics in youth sports and no place is immune to politicians being in the mix but it’s out of hand. This could be a solution. Maybe not a cure but a step in the right direction. I think BB needs to address with its customer base is simple…. 1. How to avoid pricing families that are on the borderline out of access to the game. 2. plans on keeping travel reasonable for all levels and limited for those playing on the lower level teams. The A minor and B teams don’t need to go to incredible distances for play. 3. how converting to for profit status effects playing in PAHL, how that effects one’s ability to fundraise etc. I think some town hall type meetings in each respective rink allowing for parent Q&A. the coming weeks and months are going to be very interesting and I think all of us paying parents deserve as much information as possible before decisions are made.

Boy you’re a tough guy.