Official Scheduler

[hockey1234]

Anyone know what is going on with official schedulers since the dissolution of PIHO?

Someone mentioned that the good ole boys "WPHOA" is back. It was an absolute shit show previously with only scheduling the favorites. If that is the case, get ready for not good officials to be put on games that get out of control.

[Saucey]

12 hours ago, hockey1234 said:

Anyone know what is going on with official schedulers since the dissolution of PIHO?

Someone mentioned that the good ole boys "WPHOA" is back. It was an absolute shit show previously with only scheduling the favorites. If that is the case, get ready for not good officials to be put on games that get out of control.

That happens all the time anyway. Reffing is not great here.

[ANKLEBENDER]

Most of the ole' boys have retired and a large portion of local officials weren't skating the last time WPHOA scheduled games 8 years ago. Also, you will see the same officials skating the past 8 seasons and the same person scheduling PIHL games the past 14 seasons no matter what the organization is named.  There are too many games and not enogh officials. Last season there were many gmaes that were two-man system done with one person and 3-man done by two officials, not to mention a few games had to be canceled because no officials were available.

The officials are curious themselves to what is going on and there are a ton of rumors spreading but nothing confirmed, so I'll list some if anyone can confirm.

1. PIHL president approached former WPHOA board member(s) at Keystoen State Games multiple times over the weekend and informed them that PIHL wants to work with WPHOA to schedule their games if they can get the orgaization started again. Also, the PHIL rejected proposals from 4 active scheduling organizations for one reason or another??

2. North Pittsburgh approached WPHOA and they will be scheduling games for that orgaization this season??

3. College leagues may use WPHOA or do their own scheduling system and PITT may use local guys but scheduled through their league's organization??

As of now, all other PIHO organizations have found new schedulers...Westmoreland, Allegheny, Huskies, PGH Vipers, and Esmark using ATC schedulars, Pens Elite using UPMC scheduler. 

[JerryTime]

On 8/22/2023 at 10:26 AM, ANKLEBENDER said:

Most of the ole' boys have retired and a large portion of local officials weren't skating the last time WPHOA scheduled games 8 years ago. Also, you will see the same officials skating the past 8 seasons and the same person scheduling PIHL games the past 14 seasons no matter what the organization is named.  There are too many games and not enogh officials. Last season there were many gmaes that were two-man system done with one person and 3-man done by two officials, not to mention a few games had to be canceled because no officials were available.

The officials are curious themselves to what is going on and there are a ton of rumors spreading but nothing confirmed, so I'll list some if anyone can confirm.

1. PIHL president approached former WPHOA board member(s) at Keystoen State Games multiple times over the weekend and informed them that PIHL wants to work with WPHOA to schedule their games if they can get the orgaization started again. Also, the PHIL rejected proposals from 4 active scheduling organizations for one reason or another??

2. North Pittsburgh approached WPHOA and they will be scheduling games for that orgaization this season??

3. College leagues may use WPHOA or do their own scheduling system and PITT may use local guys but scheduled through their league's organization??

As of now, all other PIHO organizations have found new schedulers...Westmoreland, Allegheny, Huskies, PGH Vipers, and Esmark using ATC schedulars, Pens Elite using UPMC scheduler. 

Anyone heard about the teams at alpha? I heard rumors they will only use the official's scheduling group based out of there.

[TheRightCall]

Yep. No matter what organization schedules its going to be the same guys, its funny people think their is a hidden pool of capable officials. 

[JerryTime]

24 minutes ago, TheRightCall said:

Yep. No matter what organization schedules its going to be the same guys, its funny people think their is a hidden pool of capable officials. 

Wonder what happened. From the outside seems like Alpha told them they couldn't have ice if they didn't let them schedule the refs.

[Loves Puck]

For those of you not aware, the ownership of Alpha Ice Complex has forced the teams playing out of their rink to use Greater Pittsburgh Game Management, and only them, for officiating services. This despite the fact that some of the various teams playing there had already come to agreements with other groups to provide their referees.

They essentially extorted the teams into using their service, regardless of cost or budget, by threatening their ice time if they refused. This comes after the high school league (PIHL), as well as college teams like the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne club teams, had already turned down their offers and agreed to deals elsewhere.

 

In doing this, Alpha and GPGM have blackmailed the teams into using them, all just a few weeks before the season begins. The teams were left with no leverage as it was too late to pursue any other realistic options.

This leads to a slippery slope. Sure, Alpha and GPGM may provide them with competitive rates this year. But there’s nothing stopping them from imposing unfair or exorbitant rates and conditions going forward, or even excluding certain teams or officials. Prior agreements and contracts mean nothing to them so long as they control the ice.

 

It also could lead to other rinks and ownership groups doing the same thing. This cuts out the choice for any team or league to control their own destiny, eliminating any competition and undercutting the officials as well.

As independent contractors, all referees can choose of their own free will where and for whom they want to skate, and can decide whether they want to work for such a group. But this concerned referee thinks it would set a dangerous precedent to support such an action. Many officials won’t choose to support GPGM. It’s up to the rest of you to decide how you want to proceed.

The leagues, teams, and USA Hockey have taken notice. Legal action could even be coming their way. It’s up to you to choose your own path. But be aware of the questionable tactics employed by this group.

 

Sincerely,

A Concerned Referee

[TheRightCall]

Must be a PIHO good old boy trying to stir a pot. 

[stickboy]

I’m surprised BB didn’t try to further corner the market with controlling the refs too, like this. 

On another note, if the ref scheduler for this group is the same as the ice scheduler at Alpha, look out!

[TheRightCall]

You know they are not the same people!

[Pucks11]

2 hours ago, Loves Puck said:

For those of you not aware, the ownership of Alpha Ice Complex has forced the teams playing out of their rink to use Greater Pittsburgh Game Management, and only them, for officiating services. This despite the fact that some of the various teams playing there had already come to agreements with other groups to provide their referees.

They essentially extorted the teams into using their service, regardless of cost or budget, by threatening their ice time if they refused. This comes after the high school league (PIHL), as well as college teams like the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne club teams, had already turned down their offers and agreed to deals elsewhere.

 

In doing this, Alpha and GPGM have blackmailed the teams into using them, all just a few weeks before the season begins. The teams were left with no leverage as it was too late to pursue any other realistic options.

This leads to a slippery slope. Sure, Alpha and GPGM may provide them with competitive rates this year. But there’s nothing stopping them from imposing unfair or exorbitant rates and conditions going forward, or even excluding certain teams or officials. Prior agreements and contracts mean nothing to them so long as they control the ice.

 

It also could lead to other rinks and ownership groups doing the same thing. This cuts out the choice for any team or league to control their own destiny, eliminating any competition and undercutting the officials as well.

As independent contractors, all referees can choose of their own free will where and for whom they want to skate, and can decide whether they want to work for such a group. But this concerned referee thinks it would set a dangerous precedent to support such an action. Many officials won’t choose to support GPGM. It’s up to the rest of you to decide how you want to proceed.

The leagues, teams, and USA Hockey have taken notice. Legal action could even be coming their way. It’s up to you to choose your own path. But be aware of the questionable tactics employed by this group.

 

Sincerely,

A Concerned Referee

Alpha is getting mad because they spent all that money on a facelift with private locker rooms and 10 x10 foot private gym in a box for their "Elite" teams and the only team that gave them a foot to stand on got blown up. They have no draw anymore so they have to control anything and everything they can.

[JerryTime]

8 minutes ago, Pucks11 said:

Alpha is getting mad because they spent all that money on a facelift with private locker rooms and 10 x10 foot private gym in a box for their "Elite" teams and the only team that gave them a foot to stand on got blown up. They have no draw anymore so they have to control anything and everything they can.

Or they didn't get the contract to schedule the entire PIHL

[Icebucket]

This doesn't surprise me at all. A couple friends who have kids who play HS there said Alpha did the same thing last year.  If they didn't buy their team supplies and equipment from house o hockey, Alpha wouldn't sell them ice.

[nemesis8679]

2 hours ago, stickboy said:

I’m surprised BB didn’t try to further corner the market with controlling the refs too, like this. 

On another note, if the ref scheduler for this group is the same as the ice scheduler at Alpha, look out!

BB probably just didn't think of/ or implement it yet. 

And wouldn't the ref scheduler probably be the ice scheduler? Only makes sense. Seems like everything gets scheduled smoothly. And I sure wouldn't want that job. 

[nemesis8679]

18 minutes ago, Icebucket said:

This doesn't surprise me at all. A couple friends who have kids who play HS there said Alpha did the same thing last year.  If they didn't buy their team supplies and equipment from house o hockey, Alpha wouldn't sell them ice.

Well, I mean, that's how the world works. 

But saying that, I'm pretty sure the uniforms for most of the teams go through KB? So are you saying they're singling out some teams and not others? And how would you enforce where they get supplies at? 

[JerryTime]

On 9/13/2023 at 10:25 PM, TheRightCall said:

Yep. No matter what organization schedules its going to be the same guys, its funny people think their is a hidden pool of capable officials. 

While true a chunk of officials may opt out of skating these games. Plenty of officials to skate these games but will it be the capable ones? Time will tell.

[Icebucket]

42 minutes ago, nemesis8679 said:

Well, I mean, that's how the world works. 

But saying that, I'm pretty sure the uniforms for most of the teams go through KB? So are you saying they're singling out some teams and not others? And how would you enforce where they get supplies at? 

As goofy as it sounds, I think it was for items like pucks, bottles, helmets, and gloves. I know there are a lot of teams who play out of alpha that don't get uniforms from them so not sure if that was part of it too

[TheRightCall]

18 minutes ago, JerryTime said:

While true a chunk of officials may opt out of skating these games. Plenty of officials to skate these games but will it be the capable ones? Time will tell.

There are more than capable ones who have not skated for PIHO for whatever reasons, so no one needs to worry about this. And, if you ask, some may say that the ones who have skated these in the past are not necessarily capable!

[JerryTime]

7 minutes ago, TheRightCall said:

There are more than capable ones who have not skated for PIHO for whatever reasons, so no one needs to worry about this. And, if you ask, some may say that the ones who have skated these in the past are not necessarily capable!

Seems like the teams/leagues had a different opinion but like I said, time will tell!

[dazedandconfused]

Here is the million $$$$ question. Quite literally.

Are the customers, the Associations and ultimately the families being charged more or less and are the officials being paid more or less than in the past.

[TheRightCall]

24 minutes ago, dazedandconfused said:

Here is the million $$$$ question. Quite literally.

Are the customers, the Associations and ultimately the families being charged more or less and are the officials being paid more or less than in the past.

Good point because its essentially the same officials. 

[Icebucket]

I'd think alpha will force everyone to use their guys at a fair rate for this season, then will jack up the price year after year. Those clubs won't have any other option aside from trying to find ice at another rink.

[Pucks11]

13 hours ago, Icebucket said:

I'd think alpha will force everyone to use their guys at a fair rate for this season, then will jack up the price year after year. Those clubs won't have any other option aside from trying to find ice at another rink.

They do have to find the money to pay those former NHL players that they are bringing in as coaches.