aaaahockey

Yes this is definitely allowed.

Without getting too specific (I know one of the rules here is to not identify specific players), I think it would depend on if she is coed or girls only PPE (I don't think the coed team members can double roster on a pahl coed team) and whether it is a coed or girls PAHL team.

I think it would be a good idea to pair external evaluations with the coaches making the final call especially with teams who have been together for years. Tryouts are only one piece of picking a good team.

Revisiting this topic, are there still arenas without livebarn? Maybe Covid did something???

Agreed it was tongue in cheek. I'm assuming 15 or 16 is the cream of the crop

I didn't think any mattered at u18 - don't you commit as an elite mite these days?

Also.. .. .... Wait for it... ... . Registration / Try-Out Process: AAA Teams will be formed by invite only with no formal try-out process. Invitations will be sent by Pittsburgh Ice Kings on behalf of the coach’s request that will include a registration and payment link. Players who may not know the head coach, but interested in AAA consideration should fill out the following application. AAA Player Application Click Here

Spring Esmark teams?

I don't know if this is just another version of Esmark but you forgot the "Ice Kings" 08 and 09 AAA teams ?. https://pittsburghicearena.com/ice-kings/

I think there are 4-5 at the 08 and 09 levels as well. And that doesn't include pens black (gone at that age now?)

Every AAA program any of my kids were a part of I was paying enough money that you better be straight I trusted my coach. If not, I can find a million AA or A or B coaches that I can pay much less and find a million other opinions.

100% this - if you are paying for a AAA program and trust the coach (which I sure as hell hope you would) why isn't he at a minimum pointing you in the right direction?

Depends on the age and skill as well as the individual kid. I've seen A major players step into games with AAA players and look just as good and I've seen AAA players play A Major the next year and look average. I know Pens and Vengeance seem to use their own normal drills for tryouts so kids coming back would likely have an advantage of knowing the drill just like kids who do their various tuneup programs. As they get older and the kids start coming from other states or countries it's just naturally going to be harder because that's an amazing talent pool to draw from.

I agree with most of what is posted here. 14+ pens elite us gonna be tough to just walk on I would guess but largely because they start pulling regionally (if not nationally). I think at the younger ages there can be some back and forth.

Did anyone catch the mite jamboree at north pittsburgh this morning? Those kids are bound for the nhl - ive literally never seen players that good. They might give the pens elite mites a run for their money.

This is a great point and I love the idea.

I'm not sure I understand this comment but maybe I'm missing something. You just use your half of the ice and set up two nets cross ice (mite style) and let the kids play a short 10 minute game at the end of practice.

I believe they keep the same coach year after year. Apparently you have to be an ex nhl player to coach squirt or peewee ?

I guess that's part of the question - if I can teach you IQ as a lacrosse or a basketball coach why can't a hockey coach? Serious question too - I don't have the answer.

It's also unfortunately in the way many coaches treat practices and then you see kids 12-14 over carrying the puck, head down, full steam ahead until they run into a kid twice their size with a full beard who really doesn't know how to check because he was never allowed until he went through puberty who knocks little johnny into a different world, but not in a good way.

I am 100% on board with what you are saying but also don't forget it's in hockeys interest to trump up how good the ADM model is (look even canada is copying us!) And eventually it will become the norm because there is too much $$$$ at stake to change course now.

I think part of it lies in the differences between their older (think U-16) team and especially a couple of the teams immediately preceding it and the younger teams. First, two levels exist at the younger teams and the lower of the two is absolutely a joke. Even at the higher level you get a lot of A chasers and it seems like it isn't til the older levels that it becomes seriously that much better than AA hockey.

Guess that puts the debate to rest who is the best hockey program around ?

I think the SHAHA team wanted to push themselves instead of playing down (no kid on that team but I have heard from parents there and I believe they voted before the season). Sure it was rough but kudos for trying to push yourselves if you need to move up after a good season.

Good discussion. Additionally, sometimes there really is a big difference between divisions. I've seen years where my children (especially in squirt) would get hammered in aa placement games and then win every a major game by multiple goals. Actually happened to two of my kids once. Not much you can do.