Chinstrap

You original query mentioned North Pittsburgh, I just glanced at their webpage and last year’s travel handbook is posted on there. Would give a glimpse into the organization. Did not look at others.

NP has 6 teams at 14u as well.

It is easy to look online ( or just ask) how many teams an organization fields at each specific age grouping, then look at the availability of ice. Any mention by someone on this board about organization X or Y will probably be met with skepticism and “ oh they’re just a disgruntled parent”. Look for yourself and see if the organization you are considering is fielding too many teams for the amount of ice available, then decide if that organization is focused on quality or quantity.

Already realize the difference in Pens Elite, NC, and Excel. My post was merely in response to this.

I know that this is NC’s first year back at the Varsity level, and I realize they are A. But at 11-1, it seems they are doing okay as it is.

Whole lot of truth tied up in that post. He’s not wrong.

In a public place such as the lobby of the rink or perhaps the parking lot? Or in a more restricted hallway to the locker room or the locker room itself? No person can enter the ice surface without the blessings of the on ice official.

Blade runners in Warrendale was going down a bad road 4 or 5 years ago. Ice was not reliable, latrines were......well.....not good. Not giving and props to Baierl but will give massive props to the Next Step Hockey management group. That place has come a long long way. As for the latrine renovation and Port-a-Johns being there and it not being in the off-season, we are only now beginning to have placement games and practices so I believe it was , in fact, the off season. Cleanliness of the temporary facilities is not the responsibility of Baierl.

A quick search showed a round trip ticket from PIT to Kazan ( the Capital) with accommodations for one was a mere $2816.00. Only two stops; Boston and Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.

I do not wish to detract from the discussion regarding checking and age groups. But to answer the original question posed by this thread, it appears North Catholic will be fielding two Middle School teams this year.

Checking.

No

As I understand, it was two 06 forwards and two 06 defensemen on the “05 BY” team.

NP had it set up for the 05 to be BY and the 06 to be BY. It was that way until the third night of try outs when it was rumored that the 05 team would be mixed. I have no insight to the how or why.

The Bantam birth year team at NP is a good group hockey players. Will be interested in where they play and how they do.