Carl Racki

On 4/24/2025 at 2:04 PM, Wes said:

I have a large box of practice jerseys, socks and other gear that is clean, but we want to donate it.

Anyone in the PGH area in need of this or anyone know a local org who would like this?
Thanks!

North Pitt has taken equipment/hockey stuff in the past 

4 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

I know Icemen and Vengeance players that have gone $20,000- $30,000 in with travel included. To get to the level necessary is ungodly expensive. Then the time commitment. Everything centered on the individual to focus and pursue the success. This is why professional race car drivers, golfers, tennis players, fishermen... and yes, hockey players, mostly come from wealthy families. People have seen the money that can be made, so the sports have become focused on the money. School sports (not college) will be dismantled eventually in favor of paid leagues. Sure, they'll have teams. But all the "talent" will be playing for their"elite" teams and they'll frown on their players playing for the free or at least less expensive school team. Basketball is becoming that, baseball is on its way, too. The only sport that doesn't seem to be heading that way is football, yet. Not sure why that is. But they have been doing the private kicker training schools and stuff for a while. 

All sports now are not for fun, socializing, or health. Sports are money.

 

 

 

I hope you are misinformed and no one ever payed $20,000 or more to play Icemen even all in lol

I like how midget 15u-18u just says "contact for pricing" lol. Must be reasonable!

3 hours ago, RefHannah said:

Shattuck St Mary's, Avon Old Farms, Mt Saint Charles, South Kent, Bishop Kearney, Are all in the 60-70k neighborhood. Yes those are boarding schools, but those are the numbers we are talking about 

Now if you want to uproot your family, move to some other city like Cleveland and play for the Barons and go to public school, you can probably save some money Vs the Pens/NC option. 

The fact is hockey is expensive, the higher the level, the more expensive it gets.  

 

 

 

 

I truly hope no one is stupid enough to pay $60-70k to play hockey anywhere lol. By the time you are done you could have paid for college a few times especially after they pay their advisor lol

6 hours ago, zam said:

I would just like to know, once and for all, what organization in your mind is the best example of a model program for player development? 

Your current complaint is Pens players develop elsewhere. But I look at the MHR and Nationals qualifiers at 15,16,18 and a huge number of the teams are Prep Schools, split season teams, or programs that don't have teams younger than bantam or midget. SSM, Mount, South Kent, MFF,  BK, Culver. 

And if I really took the time and studied the composition of the rosters I would guess teams like Gulls, Mission are also full of out of town recruited players.  The team you might point to Lil Caesars, always successful at most age levels, but those players rarely stay on the same team year in and year out, they jump between LC, Oakland, HoneyBaked, and they also pull a lot of national recruits.

So I think Pittsburgh is lucky to have a program that players are attracted to play for from out of town. And a program that yearly sends multiple teams to Nationals.  

The other area "AAA" teams in the area MIGHT be able to keep 2-3 AAA players in a given birthyear, but they are never going to attract any out of towners to come play there. And they rarely have enough quality players to be relevant.  And their best players eventually leave those organizations as well, examples 06 SHAHA, 08 vengeance.

Just for fun, walk into the office at Alpha someday and ask if there's someone that can tell you about the Vengeance program. You get Larry Moe and Curly looking at you like you interrupted their game of poker. 

And the team formerly known as Esmark, is more of an immigration program than a hockey program.  The local kids compose most of the rosters and pay most of the fees, then a plane load of wealthy Soviet Bloc players arrive at the beginning of the season with a briefcase full of roubles for the ownership. 

So please tell me if I had a gifted 8 year old, and flexibility to move anywhere, what 3 organizations would you suggest I look at?
 

Pens Elite has a great program.  My only complaint is the expense of the program.  Hockey is in a sad state where a lot of people way over pay chasing a dream.  It sometimes ruins families lives while people are making profits off of them and their child chasing a dream.  It is nice when there are other options but those do tend to be limited and not consistent.  Kudos to teams that make them available from time to time 

6 hours ago, Limitless said:

Mother russia

I thought they came from there to play here?? Lol

Here are some thoughts from a guy who has been involved in hockey for a long time.  My sons played at Pens Elite.  I can tell you at the squirt age they never worked on the power play or pk.  They would go over it a little in film or off ice.  99% of the time at squirt they just ran their lines through.  It was all about skill development but would work on concepts off ice.  I don't believe any team should be spending ice time working on a power play at the squirt level and the high level teams typically don't unless things have changed.  

As for parent coaches it can go either way but you need them.  There are not enough good paid coaches out there for high level and Varsity teams in my opinion much less all the travel/ other school teams.  If you have a very qualified parent coach it may be a much better option than a lot of paid depending on experience and motives.   If the parent coach is an issue the organization needs to let them go.  I will say years ago my one son's team had a great parent coach (no it wasn't  me) and because so many parents are anti parent coaches the organization went to a paid none parent coach.  Myself and another player moved on from that team as when I talked to the "new none parent coach" I was very concerned with how he would run the team.  That team went from 40 wins to only ten the next season.  The season after the whole team pretty much fell apart.  

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AT SQUIRT IS THAT THE PLAYER IS HAVING FUN, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND A POSITIVE COACHING ENVIRONMENT

Here is a thought, let him do what he prefers.  If he really wants to play both for a team, find a team that will let him.  If he really wants to play just goalie, let him do that.  At the end of the day neither will ruin his career.  PS he may change his mind and switch back and forth.  If he is really an athlete that has high level potential it won't matter at this age believe me.  

15 hours ago, Law said:

#20 Pitt ACHA D1 team split with #1 Ohio University this weekend. Won Friday night game 5-3 but lost Saturday 3-1. They play at #7 Niagara next weekend.

Good luck!  Seems like pretty good hockey.  I remember last year I saw on this post Pitt lost to UNLV.  That's the same UNLV that beat NCAA D1 #6 Denver.  Just goes to show how good the top ACHA teams are.  Denver isn't a bottom dweller NCAA D1 team.  

1 hour ago, Icebucket said:

For the record. Every time I've posted I've said the CV players were very wrong and deserve a lengthy suspension. I just didn't like seeing the ref take a swing at a player. I get there is a level of physicality in breaking things up, but a ref throwing a punch isn't really part of that

This is why I got involved in this topic.  PULL IT UP THE REF NEVER THREW A PUNCH!  You accusing him of that is wrong.  He didn't TAKE A SWING at the player.  For someone to post BS like this here is really wrong.  That is why I stepped in.  I don't have kids in that division.  No skin in the game.  Just wrong to accuse the ref of that.  Watch it again. I posted the Livebarn time/date.  Must have been your kid or team to make garbage like that up!  You should be embarrassed.  Took a swing????  Yeah poor kid

7 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

Not saying you're wrong about the game... but this is a hockey forum. Why the obsession to keep bringing up the police? 

I guess using a similar example twice is an obsession.  I will save that one for the wpapolice.net next time.  Sorry 

1 hour ago, Icebucket said:

Again.. not defending the CV players. They were wrong and should be punished.

But based on your stance and use of ALL CAPS, I'd wonder if you aren't the ref in question.

Must have been your son and his team

53 minutes ago, Icebucket said:

Again.. not defending the CV players. They were wrong and should be punished.

But based on your stance and use of ALL CAPS, I'd wonder if you aren't the ref in question.

 No, not the ref.  I didn't even look to see who it was.  Just tired of people blaming police, blaming officials, when the do stupid things. 

  The ref was out there doing a good job of dealing with the BS that occured.  What is he supposed to do?  The one kid is pushing him while he is escorting the other player who was out of control off.  Then you accuse the ref of abuse????  Yeah, I have a problem with that.  Put yourself in that situation and how would have you handled it better?  Lace them up!  I thought he did pretty good considering both of those players where pushing him and wrestling with him while escorting the one off after several altercations for that one player.  Clearly he couldn't let him go until he was off the ice.  He tried it once and how did that work out.  

1 hour ago, Icebucket said:

I already started that the CV players were wrong. Those players should receive lengthy suspensions for sure. But when a ref gives a forearm shot to a players face he should also be held accountable. Shouldn't take away from the CV players penalty, but the ref also shouldn't walk away with no punishment.

Again, it's people like you that are the problem.  I went back to watch it for a third time to be sure I didn't miss something.  The one player that the ref was escorting off the ice kept pushing and fighting with the ref.  The other clown kid comes over while the ref is getting the tall kid off and repeatedly PUSHES the ref.   What business does clown kid two even have getting in there and touching the ref.  EXTREMELY stupid.  The ref pushes him back SEVERAL times while getting the other clown off the ice.  Then ref  pushes clown kid two back so he could  back into the ice and clown kid two falls over and punches him. 

Clown boy two will be done for the season.  There was ZERO reason for him to go over to the ref, zero reason to push the ref numerous times and no excuse for punching the ref.  The ref simply pushed him back out of the way to get back on the ice.  THE REF ISNT EVEN LOOKING AT HIM WHEN HE PUSHES HIM BACK AND HE FALLS AS THE REF IS STILL TRYING TO GET CLOWN BOY OFF AND THE DOOR CLOSED!

PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE THE PROBLEM!  Again, they make excuses for other people's clear stupidity.  He had zero reason to be over there.  Same thing happens when people resist arrest and something bad happens to them.  I can assure you if anything would happen to that ref for how he handled things you will not have refs for the rest of the season.  Looks like you better lace them up!  I would love to see how you would have handled it. 

Livebarn 12/2 10;30pm 25min mark.  Watch it close.  

2 hours ago, Icebucket said:

I wasn't at the game but watched the whole thing a few times on livebarn. It's a very bad look for CV. Not sure if it's just a team that isn't used to losing and couldn't handle it or what..

I will say. Regarding the player who swung at the ref. He did so from the ground because the ref gave him a forearm to the face. I'd think in addition to the players being suspended, the ref should be looking at a hefty suspension as well. I get the game got out of control, but a ref taking a swing at a player can't happen and will only make things worse.

Your either kidding or a moron.  The ref is trying to escort off a kid that was already pulled out of multiple fights.  That kid should be done for the season.  Pulled the ref down multiple times.  Then the other kid that punched the ref was pushing the ref while he was trying to get the other player off the ice.  He then swung at the ref.  I WILL BE SHOCKED IF HE IS NOT GONE FOR THE SEASON. 

A scrum is one thing but these kids can't be pushing, punching refs and need to stop once it is broke up.  This isn't the NHL and I don't want to be paying for a four man officiating team because a few kids make poor decisions and you blame the ref.   

Your the clown that resists arrest and then cries police brutality.  Clowns like you are why it is hard to get good police officers, refs,...  

11 hours ago, Icebucket said:

That would take rational thought. I'm not sure Black Bear would ever consider lowering a price for anything

That is why they buy so many rinks in the same area.  They like to price set.  Then they make teams play in their leagues, use their streaming,....  They like the monopoly model!  Horrible for youth sports

So who has the best band program then?

1 hour ago, zam said:

Yes I understand the benefits of being a multi sport athlete. But that doesn't take the place of hockey training and skill development.  Perhaps it takes the place or supplements dryland training.

If you want to be a better golfer, you don't expect to get there by playing baseball? Does it help with some body mechanics, athleticism, general fitness, ya I suppose that's true. But you're getting better by driving balls, chipping balls, putting balls.

I'll bet you a ham sandwich if I go to the rink every day for a year and work on my edges and puck protection, and you go to the YMCA and play Volleyball and Basketball I'm going to be the more improved hockey player.
 

I would love to see a list of successful Varsity players that played Dek hockey and waited until they reached the Midget level to begin playing competitive amateur ice hockey. A current list, not some guys from 1974.

I have seen it numerous times over the years where more athletic players that started  later, around  12 yrs old, and passed the Junior Pens players, Hornets,...  Most of those players that started late got their start by playing dek hockey and or roller as that was what they could afford.  When they got the opportunity to play ice they were far hungrier and would catch/pass kids.  They also usually beat them in beer league.

I have also seen many players that were top players in the area move on once they hit 16,17 years old old.  Not even necessarily burnt out but just want to play highschool hockey with buddies and have a life or move on to a new sport which they have become passionate.  

You have to find the happy medium and multi sport athletes have proven to be the best time and time again.  Someone once said to me their player wanted to do skills every day.  I heard someone else say I am sure a lot of young kids would eat candy for every meal also but that  doesn't mean it is the best for them.

Yes, another black bear money grab.  A few years ago they had some good teams.  Now it looks like they allow any wanna be AAA team in it no matter how bad they are as long as they a listed AAA.  Do you think they turned down the 2009 Vengeance because they were to bad?  I doubt it, I think they would take any teams money that calls themselves AAA.

35 minutes ago, aaaahockey said:

Delete this before you give them any ideas.   

It's coming I am sure.  Sleezy way to run youth sports

2 hours ago, dazedandconfused said:

Remember all those folks who were so excited about this "new and far better option than PAHL"?

It will be interesting to see the sentiments after the conclusion of this season and then again in another 2 years. I'd be willing to bet the returns will be diminishing annually and at an increasing level.

Yes, said it when they bought their first rink in the area.   BB is no good for hockey.  They just want to monopolize everything.  Rinks, leagues, live barn, the associations that play in their rinks, tournaments, .... (which are WAY over priced).  

57 minutes ago, James Gatz said:

$2,600 for a 4 game showcase with no rules posted yet.  For that price, I'd expect ice cuts every period.

Yes absolutely ridiculous especially since it is such a mixed bag of teams.  

So all AAA schools in the playoffs?  Franklin should be an interesting team this season.  To early to tell but good start.

I wasn't shocked by the former SV coach being let go.  If you look back at the 12 yrs he was a head coach he finished on average 5th place for the regular season.  That's not a great average over 12 yrs. for an organization the size of Seneca Valley.  In that same 12 year period NA finished 1st or 2nd 7 of 12 years and had 5 championship appearances. I am not shocked by them trying a different coach.  I do know him and he is a great guy and really loves the game.  Hopefully he can prove himself at Central now although I do think he will have to sit out their 2nd game tonight as they took 12 penalties in their first game.  Hopefully he can turn that team around.

I like Lebo or Seneca.  Franklin will be interesting to watch.