April 10, 20233 yr Has anyone else here heard about the possible Esmark B team at the 2011 age? A few of the players from our 2011 team went to a skate for this team and were made offers yet they arent sure if the team is happening yet. I feel this is Black Bear at work trying to fill as much ice time as possible
April 10, 20233 yr I would put the onus more likely upon the Coach at Esmark. C.J. Stelliesalotte. Think about that a "B team" to Esmark's previously 96 ranked "A team" What next?
April 10, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, kid310050 said: Has anyone else here heard about the possible Esmark B team at the 2011 age? A few of the players from our 2011 team went to a skate for this team and were made offers yet they arent sure if the team is happening yet. I feel this is Black Bear at work trying to fill as much ice time as possible runaway very very fast
April 10, 20233 yr 100 out of 100 times play PAHL AA over an Esmark "B" team. Edited April 10, 20233 yr by RJUSHL
April 11, 20233 yr This past season’s 2008 and 2010 teams were like B teams! The luster of the Esmark is gone. But I think you can say that for every “AAA” team except for PPE. It’s all watered down now with so many “AAA” teams in WPA. Everyone can be AAA!
April 11, 20233 yr 7 minutes ago, Duster19 said: This past season’s 2008 and 2010 teams were like B teams! The luster of the Esmark is gone. But I think you can say that for every “AAA” team except for PPE. It’s all watered down now with so many “AAA” teams in WPA. Everyone can be AAA! Esmark has done very well at the midget levels. I don’t understand your statement.
April 11, 20233 yr Author 5 hours ago, PUCKCOVID19 said: runaway very very fast I want no part of it but it's yet another team taking kids away from playing PAHL AA. I'll bet at the end of the season my kids PAHL AA team is better than this team.
April 11, 20233 yr 19 minutes ago, Happy Hockey Fan said: Esmark has done very well at the midget levels. I don’t understand your statement. My gut feeling is that esmark seems to be turning into a money grab especially trying to pretend to field two teams as the peewee level. Regardless of past performance they are pretending to be competitive at younger ages and are not.
April 11, 20233 yr There are kids there that should not be AAA. It ruins the credibility of their program.
April 11, 20233 yr Particularly since, if you look at Esmark's rosters at the older levels, they have fewer and fewer local kids rostered every year. That's the same complaint for PPE. The young local kids funding the rest of the older out of state teams.
April 11, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, Saucey said: Particularly since, if you look at Esmark's rosters at the older levels, they have fewer and fewer local kids rostered every year. That's the same complaint for PPE. The young local kids funding the rest of the older out of state teams. Is that because they are trying to keep up with PPE? Rumor has it the really good 06AAA team at SHAHA is folding. I wouldn't be surprised to see Esmark try to get a few of those really good kids, even though their tryouts are over and team was picked. Brutal time of the year! Tryout season is the worst!
April 11, 20233 yr 6 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said: Is that because they are trying to keep up with PPE? Rumor has it the really good 06AAA team at SHAHA is folding. Final tryouts are tonight.
April 11, 20233 yr 4 minutes ago, aaaahockey said: Final tryouts are tonight. Is that why there were 10 or more of their top players at Vengenance tryouts last night? Maybe they were just getting a skate in!
April 11, 20233 yr 1 hour ago, hockeyisgreat said: Is that because they are trying to keep up with PPE? Rumor has it the really good 06AAA team at SHAHA is folding. I wouldn't be surprised to see Esmark try to get a few of those really good kids, even though their tryouts are over and team was picked. Brutal time of the year! Tryout season is the worst! Yea last I heard those players were going to vengeance.
April 11, 20233 yr 20 minutes ago, Icebucket said: Yea last I heard those players were going to vengeance. So is their final tryout for tonight cancelled! Anyone know why they folded?
April 11, 20233 yr 38 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said: So is their final tryout for tonight cancelled! Anyone know why they folded? I'd assume they will still hold the tryout tonight. Never know what can happen. I think the top couple SHAHA players are leaving and it's causing the rest to scramble a bit. I don't have any kids at the u18 level though so this is all second hand info
April 11, 20233 yr They canceled the tryout tonight. Top 4 players and both goalies left so assuming the coach pulled the plug as the team was not going to be as competitive as he’d like it to be.
April 12, 20233 yr 21 hours ago, aaaahockey said: My gut feeling is that esmark seems to be turning into a money grab especially trying to pretend to field two teams as the peewee level. Regardless of past performance they are pretending to be competitive at younger ages and are not. Edited April 12, 20233 yr by Happy Hockey Fan
April 12, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, Hattrick Swayze said: They canceled the tryout tonight. Top 4 players and both goalies left so assuming the coach pulled the plug as the team was not going to be as competitive as he’d like it to be. Where did the players go? Any big moves to Juniors?
April 12, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, Hattrick Swayze said: They canceled the tryout tonight. Top 4 players and both goalies left so assuming the coach pulled the plug as the team was not going to be as competitive as he’d like it to be. Was a little shocked to be honest.
April 12, 20233 yr Pretty sure 2 or 3 Forwards and a Goalie went to the Long Island Gulls. Top Defenseman to Esmark. Sounds like the majority of the rest of the players trying out at Vengeance now.
April 12, 20233 yr 1 hour ago, aaaahockey said: Was a little shocked to be honest. I actually give them a lot of credit. How many other local "AAA" options would have just fielded a very weak team to collect that AAA cash
April 12, 20233 yr 58 minutes ago, Hattrick Swayze said: Pretty sure 2 or 3 Forwards and a Goalie went to the Long Island Gulls. Top Defenseman to Esmark. Sounds like the majority of the rest of the players trying out at Vengeance now. I looked that program up, looks like they are pretty strong. One of their players made the U17 US team. So now some of the top players in Pittsburgh are traveling to Long Island NY to play U18 AAA. Probably because of all the extra requirements of the Pens.(school, academy , etc.) Pens Elite really screwed up.
April 12, 20233 yr What is the intended goal of this when there will be mid to low level A players on it with little experience? It’s really a shame these days that these “experts” are taking advantage of families that really have no clue what they are really getting into and for the ridiculous expense. The hockey system is broken. Integrity is sacrificed for $$$$.
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