Hockey1

8 minutes ago, Danner27 said:

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. 

Cant argue with stupid!  For argument sake, let's "pretend" your right.  Since you know what you're talking about, was he with the team during the first tournament of the year in NH?

1 hour ago, Danner27 said:

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! 

Not being delusional at all!  I'm just talking facts.  He has been on the team since the beginning of the season... sure you haven't been chasing the gold helmet?  By the way, I don't need to chase it.  If you think you know more, than show me proof that he played ONE single game with the Avs!  I can assure you he has not! 

1 hour ago, Jjinson said:

Actually, there are 2 players that did this. One is with the Regina Pats in the whl, and hasn’t come back since. And the other one is up with the Madison Capitals

A kid that made the team was from Phoenix and left for Regina before the season started, Not sure who you are referencing for the Madison capitals?  The 02 that was drafted by them or the 03 who spent a week, played 2 games up there and came back to the team?

4 hours ago, Danner27 said:

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. 

I know this team better than you think!  Zero 03's off of the current 16's has left for Jr's.(or left before the season started) some have been up and down, but I am guessing that there will be probably 2-3 kids who leave for their Jr team after this season, two others who definitely wont be back and a few others who choose not to come back.  I am sure they have a good idea of the kids whom will be back, like I said the Prep team for next year will have a core of 8-10 players and they will be looking for 10-11 additional players.  My point is, the team isn't picked.

4 hours ago, Danner27 said:

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 ?  

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

2 hours ago, PuckHead7 said:

Yes, I believe you are correct in estimating the 50%++ turnover from the CURRENT 18U team.  2003’s move up!  A few 02’s, many 03’s, possibly an 04??? Special group, those 03’s don’t forget that fact.  The high ups are not going to let their grand plans go by chance.  IMO, Team is full!

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.

1 hour ago, PuckHead7 said:

What is the difference?  Like someone said above, the team is already chosen.  If there were going to be any vacancies, they already know who is filling them.  If, indeed, there is no second team, DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY TRYING OUT.  Same goes for 16U 2004’s.

I don't think the team is picked, they have three or four kids on that team that will go to their Jr. Team, will leave and go back home, or might not want to play on a prep team... My guess is that they will have almost 40-50% turnover.  The core will be there, the top 8-10 players, who knows after that!

23 hours ago, Danner27 said:

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

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....

2 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

And there you have it. Nice job on your information Hockey1, you are obviously very well informed.

Ok, wait until next year when the kids that currently  play for the 16U PPE team and DON'T go to NC, are grandfathered in on this Prep Team...  Plenty of prep teams do this by the way, YALE Jr. Bulldogs is one of them that kids go to school somewhere else and play for YALE....

On ‎1‎/‎30‎/‎2020 at 6:24 PM, OrrWhat said:

The new “Prep” team will be owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. They are to wear Black and Gold uniforms with the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins logo on the chest, not red and white uniforms like North Catholic HS as they are not a team run by or associated with North Catholic High School.  The stipulations to be on said team are to, 1) attend North Catholic High School 2) attend Excel Academy (a program that exists because of NCHS.)  I think that we can all agree that the above statements are, from what we can read, 100% fact.

Now to the point of this post.  How can a private 501(c)(3) corporation, backed back the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins, require all players from said team to attend a Catholic high school.  I’m not a attorney, but this seems to open up a huge can of worms.

You do not have to attend NC, and if your on the Prep team, you will not be part of Excel Hockey Academy!

On ‎1‎/‎29‎/‎2020 at 8:39 PM, PuckHead7 said:

Don’t forget, you have to attend NC to be able to be on the PPE Prep team.  Esmark will still be a very good team, but probably number 2 in Pgh.  Also, high end scouts attend Pens and Esmark games.  All this crap about them not seeing Esmark players is untrue.  Why in the hell would they only flock to PPE when PPE doesn’t have all of the best players in Pgh. ?

This is not true, the kids that are currently playing on in the organization, will be grandfathered in....

On ‎1‎/‎29‎/‎2020 at 1:03 PM, RegDunlop7 said:

Agree with you 100%. The only point I'll make is that this model still seems like a potential money grab since the Pens Elite will field both 18U Prep and 18U Midget teams. The Prep team will pretty much play the same schedule as the Midget team -- which pushes the Midget team towards faux-AAA territory -- so the Pens will essentially make money off both teams in addition to Excel, NC, etc. Smart business move for sure, but seems like a money grab to field two 18U teams.

Not sure it's a money grab or not.  I can tell you without a doubt, That the Prep Team will be the PPE 18U team.  So there will NOT be two teams.

On ‎1‎/‎30‎/‎2020 at 12:53 PM, twoboys said:

I don't get it either.  It is almost like they are forming the team for the benefit of North Catholic.  Trying to give those attending NC/Excel a reason to stay at North Catholic after U16.  Or maybe if they get pushed off the team after U15 they can stay at North Catholic and play prep.

There will NOT be a 18U PPE and Prep team!  Just a prep PPE team...

On ‎1‎/‎27‎/‎2020 at 11:01 AM, PPEFAN said:

People are confused, and rightfully so! This is not truly prep hockey and people can’t understand why the NC students that make up this team won’t actually represent the school. They don’t have to play PIHL to represent the school either. This “prep” team should be in contention for a national championship and NC should be recognized because it’s their students. Unfortunately, they appear to be more concerned about the money.

So, as it is, this is a Pittsburgh Penguins elite team or an excel hockey academy team...a money making gimmick. They have the technicalities figured out, as they always do, and are manipulating their way to more $$$ and NC is coming along for the ride, lucky them! 

I think we’d all agree that Shattuck St Mary’s has the premiere hockey prep program in the country, right? The prestige, the point, the objective though is to provide a great education while being part of THEIR hockey tradition...TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL! Imagine if you went to school there and then played for the Minnesota Wild Elite Prep team. It is not the same thing and would absolutely change how people viewed Shattuck hockey!

Ppe are doing their thing and this time it gets them an extra 18u team, gets them more Excel $$$ and NC gets to be a serious financial beneficiary with the enrollment of an entire PPE team. Unfortunately, NC and its students will not be acknowledged for the success of the players that attend their school.

Call it prep when they’re wearing the NC logo or when the Pittsburgh Penguins open a school, otherwise gimme a break with this prep talk

Part of the reason for putting  a prep team together is for those kids who aren't ready to go to their USHL team, haven't been drafted yet, or don't want to leave to go play in the NAHL or another prep school out east or to SSM.  This allows the kid to stay home, and not leave earlier than they need to.  There were a few kids off of last years PPE 16U team I believe who wanted to go to college, didn't have a offer yet, or were drafted by an OHL or USHL team and weren't ready to be called up yet.  If they had a local option with good coaching and development they could of stayed home and not go to a league that they weren't ready for.  Call it a money grab all you want, I challenge you to tell me a hockey program or hockey institution that operates for non-profit, or doesn't charge kids to play hockey.  This is an age old argument, hockey is too expensive!  Doesn't matter where you go to play and as long as USA hockey is involved it will remain that way.  I think it's another option (which is good) for kids, and one that keeps them home if they aren't ready to leave.

On ‎1‎/‎27‎/‎2020 at 9:14 AM, RegDunlop7 said:

Prep hockey is played at a much higher level than Western PA Varsity hockey. A true Prep team would never play in the PIHL.

Someone had mentioned earlier "could/would the prep team play in the PIHL", my point was basically the same is essentially the same as you are saying, that it would never happen.

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2020 at 10:07 AM, PuckHead7 said:

Personally, I don’t think that they should allow the prep team players to play high school. Excel is on the ice and in the gym four days a week. The prep team will probably practice two/three days a week and be in the gym two days a week. They are also slated to play 50 games. Where is the time for schoolwork and downtime?

The prep team is on the ice and in the gym four days a week.  Essentially the same schedule as Excel but don't have PPE practice at night.  Can you imagine this board if the Prep team participated in PIHL?  This board would go up in flames!  For that reason alone, I hope they stay away from PIHL.

On ‎1‎/‎24‎/‎2020 at 6:10 PM, Danner27 said:

Go use EP to look at your teams. You are correct about one thing, the second esmark 18u kid quit esmark. Your top 6 scorers are all on that team because they tried to make the pens. I personally know some of these families. 
 

I’ll always call it “CW North Catholic”. Funny how fast that CW came off the sign and the story went away in two days. 
 

your kid didn’t make PPE or ESMARK. Go sit in the corner and make up more excuses how “pure” the CWNC varsity team is. 

What does "CW" have to do with anything?  The school did the right thing and your saying that as it's something bad!  If they would have waited and left it on there longer, you would of complained that they didn't take it off quick enough.  It's sad and disgusting what happened.  Having a hard time seeing what that has to do with anything hockey, no matter where you play or what school you go to!!!

On ‎1‎/‎24‎/‎2020 at 1:36 PM, Danner27 said:

The unfortunate part, the average consumer is not educated. 
the main reason NC has any hockey players is to try and get a leg up for PPE. They are all their for that reason. The ones that say they are not are the ones who’s kids did not or could not make PPE. This year they have separated PPE players for EXCEL / NC in the looker rooms even though they all go out on the ice together. Yes segregation lmao! Part of the reason was to keep what the ppe kids do on the down low. (remember a very highly recruited 03 smoking pot last year and the locker room fight ?) now this topic will soon be removed. 

C'mon man!  That is blatantly false!  These kids share the same locker rooms whether you're  a NC/PPE player, if you go to Excel, they share everything.  The Excel program is good, you might not like the people who run it or the way they run it, but kids do enjoy it and get better.  It is a lot of on ice, maybe too much! The off ice program is one of the best in the area though.  I don't have a problem with people having opinions, but be honest and truthful, don't lie about something  to fit your narrative!

The truth about NC is, and probably why they agreed to the Excel model is, when NC built the school in Cranberry, they thought enrollment would be higher initially then what it was.  This helped enrollment by 50 or so kids, do the math and adds up to a significant amount of additional revenue.