Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Western PA Youth Hockey Forum PIHL PAHL

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

New Semi Pro team in Pittsburgh

Featured Replies

Anyone ever heard of this yet? They are playing in the NEHL........ and going by the name Pittsburgh River Monsters.....

  • Replies 247
  • Views 77.7k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • And that is where the issue comes in.  The guy who owns the team has a history of being very shady.  I can only assume the team will fold mid-season and he will have "lost" all the sponsors money.

  • nemesis8679
    nemesis8679

    Oh, nobody. He meant that in general. There's video of the signing (probably signing money over to the owner is what they signed lol) from the UPMC Center on their Facebook page. The owner looks like

  • Beer League Elite
    Beer League Elite

Posted Images

I saw this on Facebook a couple of days ago, I was wondering if this was a Black Bear creation since they were playing at Printscape. 

I never understood "Semi Pro" ? Does this mean the players are paid?

And who are the perspective players? I assume it can't be junior age players or potential college players. So it must be aged out players with no other options besides Beer League?

And who are the perspective fans? I know beer league is lucky to have 1 or 2 mostly disinterested girlfriends per night.  Maybe I'm wrong but is it a high level of play that would attract area fans?

I doubt there's anywhere near enough money involved for BB to be a part of it in any form other than selling them ice. As Zam said, who will the fans be and how much could you possibly charge for entry? Financial viability seems limited at best.

Doing the math not sure how feasible this is...

Using info from the site. Each player gets ~$150/week and the season is 24 weeks. Each team will sign 30 players. $108,000 for players alone. 24 Home Games Per Season at $5 ticket. Need 900 fans per game to pay players.

Edited by JerryTime

22 hours ago, kid310050 said:

I saw this on Facebook a couple of days ago, I was wondering if this was a Black Bear creation since they were playing at Printscape. 

Link?

To be fair, what low level team sells enough tickets to cover expenditures?

Looks like the owner is jaison kelly per their website. Go ahead and Google, would love to hear everyone's first thoughts. 

  • Author
20 minutes ago, ice is cold said:

Looks like the owner is jaison kelly per their website. Go ahead and Google, would love to hear everyone's first thoughts. 

and...... so sounds just like every other faux AAA owner as well he was just caught 

THIS Jaison Kelly?! 😂

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wpxi.com/news/local/ag-shapiro-files-lawsuit-against-pittsburgh-area-car-dealership/PLXFYP4PD5BSNANDBY33FYFA6E/%3foutputType=amp

Would almost have to be, I can't see there being many Jaison Kelly's around here with that name spelling. 

If it is, the guys a stooge and a conman. If I was a player, I'd make sure to get my money upfront. 

33 minutes ago, nemesis8679 said:

THIS Jaison Kelly?! 😂

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wpxi.com/news/local/ag-shapiro-files-lawsuit-against-pittsburgh-area-car-dealership/PLXFYP4PD5BSNANDBY33FYFA6E/%3foutputType=amp

Would almost have to be, I can't see there being many Jaison Kelly's around here with that name spelling. 

If it is, the guys a stooge and a conman. If I was a player, I'd make sure to get my money upfront. 

Same Jaison Kelly. Definitely something sketchy when he is involved.

1 hour ago, Pucks11 said:

Same Jaison Kelly. Definitely something sketchy when he is involved.

Whats his connection to high level hockey? 

18 minutes ago, nemesis8679 said:

Whats his connection to high level hockey? 

Good question.  Never heard of that name in regards to hockey.

 

12 minutes ago, Wes said:

Good question.  Never heard of that name in regards to hockey.

 

Facebook tells me he has a younger son who plays at NP, maybe he is making sure he has a semi pro future. Lol 

From what I can tell it’s full contact traveling beer league? I really don’t understand the draw to that from a player or a fan perspective but to each their own I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️.

 

7 hours ago, JerryTime said:

Doing the math not sure how feasible this is...

Using info from the site. Each player gets ~$150/week and the season is 24 weeks. Each team will sign 30 players. $108,000 for players alone. 24 Home Games Per Season at $5 ticket. Need 900 fans per game to pay players.

See below.  Daddy throws 20k at the team per player and suddenly they are in the green and little Johnny gets to tell everyone he played for a check. 

1 hour ago, forbin said:

From what I can tell it’s full contact traveling beer league? I really don’t understand the draw to that from a player or a fan perspective but to each their own I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️.

 

I guess if you are playing beer league now and can get paid $150/game vs a 6-pack it is compelling. From a fan perspective.... I've got nothing.... 

Why not just go to a Pitt/RMU/Nailers game if you want to watch competitive non-pro or semi-pro hockey? 

If they're getting paid $150/week, that doesn't even cover the travel... or does this simpleton think he's going to cover those costs, too? 

This makes no sense. 

Or is this a scam to get sponsorships, close up when there's no money to continue, and keep the change? 

If your parents throw in 10k a piece (likely less then they are paying for faux AAA at lower levels)  a couple sponsorships get you all the ice you need and your parents might even save money based on travel + whatever they were doing before. 

Also see 3ice where the Prince of ice castle played last year (at least in Pittsburgh). How that stuff makes money beats me! 

4 minutes ago, aaaahockey said:

If your parents throw in 10k a piece (likely less then they are paying for faux AAA at lower levels)  a couple sponsorships get you all the ice you need and your parents might even save money based on travel + whatever they were doing before. 

According to their website, which I can't figure out the math...all they pay for is exhibition and housing (so id assume no one is moving for this, so Pittsburgh players)

Earn around $150-$250 per week in salary

Travel (transportation, food and lodging) provided 

Zero fees, other than during the exhibition season ($20 per skate)

Up to 4 uniform sets 

Maximum of playing and practicing 3 days a week

Games played during the weekends

Bonuses awarded for performance, playoff wins and team sales 

Detailed stat tracking, will be on Elite Prospects 

All games filmed and live-streamed 

All-Star Game, Stadium Game, Outdoor game and International Game

25 skater spots and 3 goalie spots on every team

Up to 20 teams in the league 

Region heavy travel 

History has a funny way of repeating itself.  Do your homework on the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL) in 2007-2008.  If this new league actually gets off the ground, I would expect a similar demise. 

11 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

Whats his connection to high level hockey? 

Absolutely nothing! He stacks beer league teams and brags about championships.

Create an account or sign in to comment

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.