RJUSHL

I don’t know how these lists are shared around but if you go to a CCM tournament or a MidAm camp you will end up getting all these emails for various junior teams hosting camps. Some of them are good camps, but you’re paying money and they are not exclusive or anything.

It’s wild. And I think it’s just going to get more insane at the end of the week as Preds, SHAHA, and Vengeance wrap up tryouts and each roster has a huge turnover. A couple of the AA teams (North Pitt, Rebellion, Renegades, Badgers) could legitimately be better than Esmark when all is said and done.

Lots of shifting with the 09s this year (and more to come). Pens rightfully taking some 09 Vengeance kids. Esmark 09 struggling to field a team and having to hold supplementals. Some unknowns with Vengeance tryouts but that seems to be changing now. They will get some of the better Esmark players and some of the top AA players making a jump, as well as keeping the majority of their team. Even losing a few players, the Vengeance 09 team could be better next year. And some of the Esmark players in the south hills seem to be headed for the Preds 09 AAA team. Between SHAHA, Preds, and Esmark there are going to be some AAA players that bump down to AA this year. Lots of interest in North Pittsburgh and South Pittsburgh in terms of a landing spot for AAA kids that get bumped and the better AA kids from Foxes and Lebo that seem to be moving on. NPGH and SPGH seem to have the best coaching situations and solid plans for next season. They're going to improve a lot. And on the other side of the city, the Renegades and Badgers seem to be picking up many of the top players from the very good '09 Viper Stars AA team. AAA: Pens and Preds should be a lot better. Esmark is going to struggle. Vengeance should still be very good. Wouldn't surprise me if this is the last year of SHAHA 09s playing AAA. They should remain ranked at about 100. That's a very good AA team, not so sure it's AAA. Why not compete for Tier II nationals? They could win it. AA: Rebellion, North Pitt, and Renegades will be much better. Foxes and Lebo seem to be taking a step back. Just an absurd amount of movement with the 09s this year.

I dunno, seems like a combo PAHL/AHF situation is pretty appealing. Better than doing five random MyHockey type tournaments where you end up facing a PAHL team from Pittsburgh. Doing AHF showcases and then the resulting playoffs if the team qualifies as well as PAHL doesn't seem like a bad situation. AHF also seems to do a good job with stats and they also put together all star teams and all star games for top performers in each division. I'm sure the AHF is not perfect but they seem to be doing some innovative things. Their Krach rating is interesting and makes sense for unbalanced schedules, and I'm sure they don't do a FPP.

https://atlantichockeyfederation.com/south-pittsburgh-rebellion-join-for-the-2023-24-season/ South Pittsburgh Rebellion joining AHF for the 2023-24 season. So Black Bear affiliated organizations in the area: Badgers - AHF Rebellion - AHF Esmark - THF Preds - THF Yetis - THF Am I missing any?

What has been the reception at Vengeance with all the changes they've made in the past few weeks/months? They've brought in a lot of new coaches and are pushing their new facilities. I think there's a good chance they'll continue to gain ground and continue to overtake Esmark as the second best Tier 1 program in the area.

Better coaching is a trend I've noticed in bantam and midget levels in PAHL. Foxes are getting better at this although they've brought in a few that haven't impressed. Rebellion seems to be doing a really nice job with this, especially the '09 team with Shell, Tingle, and the other Peters Varsity coaches all coaching that team together. North Pitt also seems to be doing a better job with coaching this time around. Nice to see orgs get away from daddy ball for the older AA teams.

What's going on with the '09 Vengeance? I know many people were not happy with the situation last year. But now they brought in a new coach (I think lots of new coaches) and have their new locker room, gym, and video facilities. Did that convince people to stay? I'm guessing Esmark may be losing some of their better '09s to that team.

Disagree, but I can see what you are saying. He plays with an edge. Not putting you into this category, but just talking with people the past couple days about this, it bothers me how much jealousy I sense when a local kid "makes it" and is playing at a high level and on a big stage. It's just a shame. The jealousy in hockey around here can be awful. People try and hide it but they can't. It just comes out.

Should've been offsetting penalties. That was a ridiculous call, especially in that situation. Inexcusable by the refs, especially when the refs contradicted each other. Just brutal. Either let them play in that situation or call offsetting minors.

100 out of 100 times play PAHL AA over an Esmark "B" team.

I thought he was pretty involved with Detroit area coaching?

Very nice. Is Mooney the only WPA kid?

Why are people leaving Esmark and Vengeance? I know Preds will be playing in THF but Esmark is already playing in the THF.

The 09 Mustangs would win PAHL AA fairly easily. Just like every organization, you have to look at it on a team by team or birth year by birth your basis. A blanket statement like yours just isn't true in all cases. For some of their teams, it's absolutely true.

Could you explain their split season approach.

Don't know if it's been mentioned here but according to people on the board at Rebellion in a Facebook post, Esmark will only have two ice slots per week at Printscape. Two ice slots for the entire organization. That's nothing. So they are advertising as if they are playing/practicing at both rinks, but it's going to be 95% New Ken. I know it's a sales pitch by Esmark to get some south hills kids, but those families may be disappointed.

South Pittsburgh Rebellion posted pictures of the construction of the second sheet starting at Printscape. I guess it is happening after all.

I agree with Preds not having issues with ice time, but the other three certainly do. Sounds like next season there won’t be an issue at Rebellion with the second sheet.

Thanks for chiming in on this board. I know a lot of the south hills teams (Preds, SHAHA, Lebo, Rebellion) have had some major ice time crunches this past season, with a lot of them scheduling ice at RMU, Rostraver, Armory, etc. With the additional ice sheet is it pretty much guaranteed that all the AA teams will have at least two practices per week? Maybe more?

I agree 100%. I can't tell you how many time's I've heard "but we've always done it this way" in hockey. This appeal to tradition is holding hockey back in our region.

So what are the THF teams in the area now? Esmark, Icemen, and now Preds? Better than just a single THF team in the area, if you're on one of those teams. Now we'll see what SHAHA AAA does. Join THF? Stay independent? Seems like South Pitt is trying to become a landing spot for some Tier 1 teams. They have to fill that new ice sheet. I'm sure we're going to see some PAHL teams announce that they are playing in the AHF in the next few weeks. Badgers, Rebellion, etc. will start with full season PAHL and half season AHF schedule for their AA teams next year if I had to guess.

It would be interesting to hear more about his development process and what you learned along the way, as much as you're comfortable sharing.

How good are the MidAm tryout camps? I'm assuming those are invite only?

He's a good coach. Being a former NFL player is an asset, not a liability or a joke as you make it out to be. That's valuable experience when it comes to work ethic, structure, discipline, attitude, skill acquisition, what it takes to get to the next level, etc. Not to mention he knows hockey and is a good hockey coach. I'll take that over Joe Pittsburgh from Blawnox that can barely stand on skates anymore and still talks about his mediocre high school hockey career in the early 90s.