Jump to content

07 Tryouts


Recommended Posts

14 hours ago, forbin said:

I mean I wasn't gonna say anything.....LOL

had you been around last night you would have seen the conversation (unless you did see it) Could make a movie about it - the pro team, ppe, favors, kick backs, pay offs, names ? you would have thought we were talking about congress!  I really wish everyone could know, but I along with the other guy don’t have the money to deal with those high end attorneys. It would have happened. They would have more than likely came after this message board too.  If you folks recall how fast the posts got taken down a few years back about some well known 2003 players that got busted smoking weed and bullying excel kids in the locker room. You know the one kid who’s committed to psu ? the other who’s dad was running things. That stuff was petty compared to what we talked about last night.

Last night was all truth & proof how to pay off someone on the back side, use the pro team to get a kid into an ncaa d1 program that has no business ever making it there.

 

Edited by Danner27
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there any leadership left up there with local ties?  It’s a shame that the keys are in the hands of those with no ties or goals of developing and promoting Pittsburgh hockey.  Especially sad to think that local talent (and there is more in upcoming ages) have to seriously start thinking about going out of town to further their hockey path when they should have this premier resource actually supporting them. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

Wrong site buddy. 

Not really - one of the reasons myself & the other poster agreed to take down what we talked about publicly here last. That man has serious political pull and attorneys that’s would bleed us dry under a weeks time.

David Morehouse was Bill Clinton’s campaign manager. This is when David met Ron Burkle who was at the time the single biggest donor to the democrat party. David was brought into the Penguins to use his political pull & put pressure on Governor Rendel to get the new arena secured. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, stickboy said:

Is there any leadership left up there with local ties?  It’s a shame that the keys are in the hands of those with no ties or goals of developing and promoting Pittsburgh hockey.  Especially sad to think that local talent (and there is more in upcoming ages) have to seriously start thinking about going out of town to further their hockey path when they should have this premier resource actually supporting them. 

The thing to do is getting mite and squirt aged parents to realize these things.  To get the majority of kids in another program around town. That requires living without the black and gold jersey,  but if you can do that boy do you save you and all your buddies a lot of grief long term. The squirt parents, and the parents who think they are squeaky clean and do as they’re told__ volunteer for everything etc. They’re the catalyst that keeps the momentum rolling in Cranberry. 
 

Until they get fucked… because everyone gets fucked in the end.  If it’s not them directly fucking you.  It’s their lack of success with developing athletes that has a great chance of fucking you (time and money)  and your kid (development).  It’s too late once you hit bantam,  most likely going to have to find out the hard way and end up sending your kid out of state.  But if you can get the flock to buy in at an early age and opt out of cranberry collectively __then most kids can stay right here as long as they want before junior. 
 
They ofcourse have thought of this so they created the mite program to really sink their teeth in early. 

 

Vengeance 2008 is perfect example of parents who just said screw it nd all went to another program.  Phenomenal coach and a lot of kids doing well there. No pens jersey, no one cares.  Those kids are all getting the same accolades and recognition they would have got anywhere.  Parents just have the balls to tell Cranberry to get bent.  They know they’re better off,  extremely better off where they are at. 
 

But you know__ Doug and Melissa just can’t pass up that opportunity to put that logo sticker on the back of their vehicle.  Then post junior in a jersey so everyone knows their kid is talented.  While the rest of us who have seen this all play out (over and over and over and over) are feeling sorry for what you’re getting yourself and more importantly your kid into. 

Edited by ChiefKeef
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

And anyone who disputes anything I have to say.
 

1.   Tell me why there’s mass turnover on bantam and midget teams every year? Why are all the former 2006 born players playing in Cleveland? Are they not good enough? And if so why did they wipe their ass with the Pens 2006 team last year each time they faced off?  What was that about? Why can’t the 2007’s fill up a team as of the moment?  Why are most of the top 08 Pittsburgh kids at the Vengeance?  Why did two more Pittsburgh born 08’s opt to leave the program this year? 

 

2.  What are their results with sending kids to higher levels of hockey? What’s the average round the draft picks are going in if they do go? The college commitments; we all know a commitment is just a motion of intent to participate in the program SHOULD THE PLAYER MAKE THE TEAM. How many of the players are making the team?  North Americas best or premier coaching__ that’s what it said in the advertisement in my USA hockey magazine! 
 

3.  Of the kids who do move along. How many of those kids came from hockey families where they’re on the ice 4 days a week with Dad. Or coaches kids. 
 

4.  How many of the kids with junior selections and ‘commitments’ on the TV screens  in the lobby played a singular game of peewee hockey for the program? When did they arrive on the scene? 

5. How many squirt players are still in the program by second year bantam? Rough estimate? North Americas best coaching right? 


6. Is Excel academy required?  Seems that everyone who opted out is no longer desired with in the program? Sure seems like it’s a requirement and if so, how do you explain the choice of schools, which by most accounts isn’t even as good a school as most public schools. 
 

7.  When you find out the number of kids who move on from the program, ala their success rate.  Can you justify the hundred thousand + dollar gamble it will take in the end? 


8. When you determine how many squirt aged players are still with the program by bantam major.  Can you justify the investment  /  Gamble? 
 

9. Why do the participation fees jump anywhere from 300 to 900 dollars a year, yet there’s a new initiative out of the rink that’s highly concerned about the affordability of youth hockey. 
 

10. Where is all the money going.  You can only need so much to essentially pay some players to stay and play at the program.  Offer sweet deals to lure those out of town recruits for the optics.  Where does the rest of it go? Non profit right? 

Edited by ChiefKeef
  • Like 1
  • 100 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Well ChiefKeek I do know why not one player from Armstrong NB 18UAA team last year returned.  I was told 8 kids could have returned, not one did.  Why?  Well, I can only think that it may have something to do with the person in charge of their national bound program, even though he was not supposed to be the head coach, he made the call to not give the kid (a goalie) one game.  Didn't even give the kid 1 minute of playing time. From what I heard the kid was supposed to get at least one game, that was made clear to the family before leaving. They could have played him the last game since it was a meaningless game but still didn't.  Imagine, spending thousands of dollars to go to California for however many days they were there. I'm assuming 4 to 5 days,  and not getting any playing time when he was told he would at least get one game.  The kid was a goalie, not to mention this was his last year in Amateurs.   Pretty sad and deplorable, IMO.   I mean, let's face it- politics are in all associations, all sports but to do what this association did to a kid and family is truly disgusting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/12/2022 at 5:05 PM, stickboy said:

Is there any leadership left up there with local ties?  It’s a shame that the keys are in the hands of those with no ties or goals of developing and promoting Pittsburgh hockey.  Especially sad to think that local talent (and there is more in upcoming ages) have to seriously start thinking about going out of town to further their hockey path when they should have this premier resource actually supporting them. 

Ya know what the real shame of it all is? There have been a lot of good, knowledgeable, dedicated people that have worked their asses off over the last 40 or so years to try to facilitate better opportunities for local talent. But, here we are nearly right back where we were in the 70's and 80's where you pretty much needed to find a way for your kid to play in Michigan, Massachusetts, or Canada (maybe Minnesota if they are really good and your family is from there) if you wanted a half of a sniff at JR's or NCAA D1.. just to try to get a fair shake at proving they are good enough. and even then the deck is stacked against you because you are just not part of the club.

Now here's the real ironic thing.....Everything we bitch about daily just doesn't matter. For the most part, it has always been a "who you know, who you blow, or who you can buy off" prospect. The hockey world is a lot smaller than most really know. It's more like an exclusive Country Club and you gotta have the right pedigree, have enough money, or be useful to get past the front gate.

Probably the only reason that kids from the hoi polloi families (as that radio personality Mr. Madden would call us) have any chance of success is that they DO have family resources that have been through the grinder. Who were chewed up and spit out, while having had their dreams shattered and eyes opened. We remember and learn from that experience. We know the game and can teach the game. We know and can teach the skills. We pass our knowledge and experience on to our kids, grand kids, nephews & nieces. And we do their best to try to guide them through the jungle.

 

Edited by GrumpyOldPucker
edited content
  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree in principle.  Sure you’re going to deal with the ‘real world’ during your come up in hockey. Happens everywhere at every level.  

However it really doesn’t have to be as hard as PPE makes it.  Their unspoken requirements for their prep school cosplay,  along with probably the shittiest culture in youth hockey shouldn’t be something anyone has to go through or be guided through. 

Again, that program has completely hijacked youth hockey in Pittsburgh.  Their MO is clear as day.  Enchant local mite, squirt and peewee families to help pay the bills and keep up the optics with my hockey rankings and such.  Only to be led into bantam where being a local works against you.  Your kid certainly may be good enough to be on the team,  but the promises and back door deals made to bring outside kids into town have potential to negate whatever your kid brings to the table. 

If you don’t believe this Mr or Mrs squirt parents.  Do your homework. 08’s, 07’s and 06’s have all fled the program.  Mostly local kids.  The hilarious part is the kids who come here from outside,  get a dose of the PPE,  and then get out of town as fast as they can once the season is over. 
 

The non-productive nature of sending your kid to a mediocre Catholic school with sky high demands, then forcing them to do workouts and skate 4 hours a day is crazy shit.  The academy does not benefit any kid,  it hurts kids in fact.  There is not a single pro team, college team or junior team who spends that much time working out and practicing.  The kicker is when the trainer starts his rant about rest and recovery and preventing overuse injuries. The only thing The Academy benefits is the justification for some comfy salaries. 
 

Yes your squirt is good. He may still be one of the best when he’s 13__ It just doesn’t matter, the optics and big dollars that come with Braxton from Team Wisconsin moving here are far more important.  Along with all of the promises made to Braxtons parents about what his role will be.  You’re just a local who they know isn’t going to go anywhere,  so you’ll deal with it and like it. 
 

And the cycle repeats year after year after year and the squirt and peewee parents keeping paying and praying it won’t.  Either the pro team needs to realize what the current iteration of PPE  has done to the local scene and make changes OR some one needs to get through to the younger parents. Get them to see past wearing a pro teams jersey and collectively have the whole group go elsewhere in town.  As well as ignoring the warnings and phone calls from the PPE about how they need to be in Cranberry if they want to succeed.  
 

Solution is simple.  Reject them.  You and your kid and all your kids little buddies on your AAU mite team will be better off,  not only better off but you might even find some actual long term development somewhere else around town. 
 

Take a look past the some big name players coming out of town.  See where they were actually developed or the resources they had outside of PPE.  Good people and good families but unless your kid is a phenom and an identifiable potential NHL talent from early on (99% aren’t)___  you need to take a look at the results for the 99% coming out of PPE because that’s where your child falls.  Your child does fall there too.  Don’t care if he’s top 10 in the country in squirts,  or peewees,  playing on all the ‘elite’ spring teams__ he’s right there with a lot of other great players.  The 1% are your top 10 NHL draft picks,  most of which people could see when they were 9. 

 

 Don’t be fooled by the slick talk on Twitter and social media though,  the check ins with former players who did indeed move on.  Do the math,  what are the PPE producing verse other programs around the country.  
 

That program is a nightmare.  You’re an idiot if you trust them with the long term development of your kid.  At the very least, save your money through peewees and send them to a prep school down the line.  Or better yet,  get over the jersey,  fancy rink and 5 star concession stand because that’s all it is.  Get over the car decals and bragging on FB how your kid is a member of the club.  Focus all of that energy on finding them good development.  People who actually care about helping kids achieve dreams as opposed to extorting you of every dollar you have, and your kid being a ‘customer’. 

Edited by ChiefKeef
  • 100 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

How many kids are involved with Excel Academy at this point?  Does anyone know the numbers?  How many kids that are involved and don't play for PPE?  I wonder if all the out of towners are also involved with Excel Academy?  I wonder how the kids in Cleveland who were displaced by PPE kids feel?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Pretty much all of bantam-midget is doing it.  The precedent is passively aggressively set as early as squirts with the grade school version.  Though PPE can’t afford to play games with the ones who don’t because they have a hard time finding 11 year old replacements from out of town. 

They will say you don’t have to do the academy in high school. Which is bullshit.  If you don’t do it, they will find someone else who will.  Unless they are in a pinch and have to make an exception.  
 

It’s a fluid situation based on their needs. They don’t say it flat out,  but they very much communicate it in other ways.  If you’re not a top player on the team and you don’t do it,  you’re going to catch some blow back if they can’t find a replacement.  However they will and usually do find a replacement.  Hell, you may even want to do it but your replacement was being recruited anyway lol The kids who don’t do it have to get dressed in a separate locker room away from their team__ like lepers. 
 

Whether you’re a top player and you do it or not,  you’re likely still going to get boned by all the promises made to the out of town kid and family to get them here. If you don’t do it,  you can fully expect the favoritism to swing even more in the out of town kids favor. 
 

Every out of town kid does it. It’s the whole reason they’re here.  They get sold a bill of goods,  told how valued they are and it’s all enticing.  That program preys on people with money, and good athletes.  They know exactly what to do and say to really stroke the parents egos.  Push them over the edge into sending their kid here.  
 

The kids in Cleveland spent last season skull fucking the PPE team they all should still be playing on.   That’s how they feel. 

Edited by ChiefKeef
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a whole lot of A chasing in Pittsburgh hockey these days. Disappointing to see it all go to shit and local players going to Ohio to escape it all. Big money grab. Pens vengeance and esmark are the only real AAA organizations in the area. Everything else a money grab for desperate parents. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Pens are the only real AAA organization in the area. Esmark at 16 & 18 are very competitive but below that they don’t compete in the top 25 at the AAA level. Vengeance has a few competitive teams but overall are not a legit AAA level organization.
 

Some people will always look for an extra A instead of paying half the cost and getting the same development out of their local organization. North Pgh, Renegades, South Pgh, and Allegheny all have good programs and some very competitive teams at a much lower cost without offering the “AAA” option but lots of families still flock to the organizations offering the extra A for bragging rights. It will never change so we should all quit complaining about it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Sticktime56 said:

There is a whole lot of A chasing in Pittsburgh hockey these days. Disappointing to see it all go to shit and local players going to Ohio to escape it all. Big money grab. Pens vengeance and esmark are the only real AAA organizations in the area. Everything else a money grab for desperate parents. 

Even some of those teams are money grabs at certain birth years.  If you aren't in the top 30 maybe 40 you are not AAA.  You are wasting your breath though as I have said it a million times.  

  • 100 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The South Hills 06 AAA Team has quietly gone about business for the last 5 years at least.  They are a very solid AAA team that seems to have full transparency.  Look at their website and you will see their schedule and full team stats. You can even go back years.  They seem to have a core of solid players then add a few and lose a few every year.  I think they may have originally come from Southpointe.  It would be interesting to see them play the Pens elite 16U team. I'm sure they would like more of a shot at them than just Mid Ams.  They had one player drafted by the NCDC I think.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, hockeyisgreat said:

The South Hills 06 AAA Team has quietly gone about business for the last 5 years at least.  They are a very solid AAA team that seems to have full transparency.  Look at their website and you will see their schedule and full team stats. You can even go back years.  They seem to have a core of solid players then add a few and lose a few every year.  I think they may have originally come from Southpointe.  It would be interesting to see them play the Pens elite 16U team. I'm sure they would like more of a shot at them than just Mid Ams.  They had one player drafted by the NCDC I think.  

drafted in NCDC means noting really. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...