Wes

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!

Mid-Ams at least used to be a sham... the coaches know pretty much who will be picked even before that weekend starts. Our son participated in this 10 years ago and it was clear a decent number of players were there horsing around and the rest were battling it out. It was nice to be recognized and chosen, but it was just a money-making sham that most of the players had no chance no matter how well they did.

as a long time team manager, I would stand outside the locker room all the way through 18u to make sure everyone got out and there were no shenanigans. Never had a single issue with AA and AAA levels.

Why don't you ask the staff or ask for the manager's phone number and straight out ask them?

We funded all of our son the goalie training. He turned out to be a really good amateur goalie. (he's done with hockey post college now) not once in all his years did anyone evaluate his play in person. and it is vert true if the goalie is solid the coaches mostly ignore them... on the other hand there's not much your average coach can do with goalies anyway. .

Here in 2024, now that my kids have graduated college, in hindsight I'd say both in person reviews and analysis of play along with video review of the same would be very beneficial to a goalie who is really interested in learning the position. However, in my son's entire goalie career, and that was mostly at AA/AAA levels, not once did a goalie coach ever do an in-game review of his play. There is so many more nuances to the position than just the drills you do with a goalie coach. Don't get me wrong, those drills help by getting the technique down, but I'd think first hand analysis would be the best thing. The ability to discuss specific scenarios with a goalie based on their real in game performance in my mind would really help goalies who are aspiring to be the best.

So let me open Pandora's box and ask why? My son went to him from around age 11-15/16 and I thought he did an OK job, but that ended around 2016. What went downhill?

Agreed on the regions. It's usually so stacked in the Philly area that it's unfair. My son's team was one of the last from Western PA to win the 18 age group. He always had fun playing in the Keystone games with a bunch of his hockey friends. But one big issue is that Allegheny and Westmoreland counties (and Butler for that matter) are in different regions. My son had friends that lived in both counties and thus both regions and they all wanted to play together but couldn't due to the dumb way the regions are setup.

Top of the line neck protector. https://skate-armor.com/ Bought for my adult son, he doesn't want it, hasn't worn it, brand new. Paid $40. Will sell for $30. PM if interested. If this post is up, its still available. Can meet on the east side of Allegheny county.

Makes sense, but there is literally nowhere around there to park multiple busses, except maybe the Walmart parking lot like a mile away on the next hill over.

Not that I'm going, but where does BB expect people to park for the Nationals @ Center Ice? Heck, for just some regular busy weekends people park all the way down the drive in the front. I'm trying to figure out where 12+ teams worth of parents cars are going to park. (??)

Why has the PAHL always kept the stats a secret? That's been going on for a decade I believe.

Regarding scoring/PAHL scoresheets/etc. I was a long-time manager mostly at the AA and AAA level. I didn't care which team was which, I tried to be as accurate as possible both ways with the stats. What I found most of the time is the refs were lazy and would only give me 1 assist most of the time, even though I knew (easily) who had the second assist (for both teams)... I knew how to count shots and never bullcrapped around with padding stats. But I have literally sat next to other teams scorekeepers and they were totally clueless on shots/saves, etc. I've been gone from the PAHL for years, but I still think the dumbest move ever was implementing Fair Play Points.

he's still the commie at CHE as well. Must be nice to dip in all that $$$ https://www.collegehockeyeast.com/personnel I have no idea how he got the PAHL job or the CHE job. He's well connected and I guess that's the key.

Armstrong would easily be in the top 5.

Slightly OT, but how the heck did DF get the position as ED with PAHL when to the best of my knowledge he never had anything to do with them??? WTF? Regardless, he's done nothing to improve anything since we left a few years back. Everything still sucks... Just like the WPIAL.

I was just going to say the same thing to @hockeyisgreat but you beat me to it. They get paid $$$ and try to skate by with the minimum amount of work possible. Strange how nothing has changed much since Darcee left.

The PAHL and Midam are total hack buddy-buddy orgs. I couldn't break the glass to get in there, despite trying for years when my kids were active. They want the status quo and nothing more. No ambition, nobody with motivation to improve. The top 2 people in that org are stooges... none of this is surprising.

Our daughter was in this situation. We told the PAHL and PIHL coaches that the AAA team was her priority. They didn't have a problem... But scenarios from coach to coach would vary. But I get it that everyone is worried about lawsuits, etc.

As an RMU alum, I have ZERO idea where on campus they can fit a multi plex arena setup, without demolishing existing buildings - or filling in the valley on the back of campus. There is not much room on that property.

"Gender Equality Issue..." 😵‍💫 So glad I'm not dealing with this bullcrap anymore. The PAHL and Midam are run by inbred stooges.

This would be surprising, given the state of the environment and that hockey is one of the most expensive sports... but never underestimate the pens attempts to mess up youth hockey.

The only org my son played on, and we felt the tryouts were fair and unbiased (for the most part LOL), was with Allegheny in the PRE-BlackBear days. They would bring in outside evaluators and grade the players based on what they saw, not by how many years they played for Allegheny.

😁

this This pretty much sums up our experience from 2010-2020 with 2 kids playing AA/AAA hockey who both were very good players. Never home, bank account drained, cars with 170,000 miles on them. Neither child playing college hockey. Son plays beer league.