Pens Elite Players Drafted to the NHL

[zam]

Wow! Pens Elite had 5 or 6 of their guys drafted to the NHL this weekend! That's a pretty solid number.  Did any of the other Pittsburgh area  "AAA" organizations have any taken?

[sadday4hockey]

5 or 6??

How can that be?

It has to be a finite number.

 

 

[zam]

Both 5 and 6 are finite numbers. 

[aaaahockey]

9 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

5 or 6??

How can that be?

It has to be a finite number.

 

 

It's the elite mite program starting to show dividends 

[nemesis8679]

What was the average number of seasons played there, and what ages?

[Zarg]

19 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

What was the average number of seasons played there, and what ages?

The ones I am aware of and from what I could find on EP-

Kieren Dervin drafted by Vancouver 3rd Round, #65 overall. From Gloucester, Ontario. Played one year at Pens Elite at 15U after playing AAA in Ontario, then moved on to Saint Andrews College (Prep School) in Ontario where he played U18 AAA and was drafted into the OHL (Kingston). 

Charlie Trethewey drafted by Pittsburgh 3rd Round, #73 overall. Originally from Maryland and seems to play early youth hockey there, he played at least two years with the Pens Elite at 13 and 14 before moving on to Little Caesars AAA at 15 and then the US National Development Team

L.J. Mooney drafted by Montreal 4th Round #113 overall. From West Mifflin, seems to have grown up playing for Pens Elite for most of his youth hockey career, switched over to the US National Development Team at 17. 

Brandon Gorzynski drafted by Dallas 4th Round #126 overall. Originally from Scottsdale AZ, seems to have played his early youth hockey there for the Jr Coyotes. Played Pens Elite 2 seasons at 15 and 16 before being drafted into the WHL (Calgary). 

Jacob Cloutier drafted by Winnipeg 7th Round, #220 overall. Originally from Gloucester, Ontario. Played one year at Pens Elite at 15U after playing AAA in Ontario, then moved on to Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and was drafted into the OHL (Saginaw). 

 

[Spear and Magic Helmet]

4 hours ago, Zarg said:

The ones I am aware of and from what I could find on EP-

Kieren Dervin drafted by Vancouver 3rd Round, #65 overall. From Gloucester, Ontario. Played one year at Pens Elite at 15U after playing AAA in Ontario, then moved on to Saint Andrews College (Prep School) in Ontario where he played U18 AAA and was drafted into the OHL (Kingston). 

Charlie Trethewey drafted by Pittsburgh 3rd Round, #73 overall. Originally from Maryland and seems to play early youth hockey there, he played at least two years with the Pens Elite at 13 and 14 before moving on to Little Caesars AAA at 15 and then the US National Development Team

L.J. Mooney drafted by Montreal 4th Round #113 overall. From West Mifflin, seems to have grown up playing for Pens Elite for most of his youth hockey career, switched over to the US National Development Team at 17. 

Brandon Gorzynski drafted by Dallas 4th Round #126 overall. Originally from Scottsdale AZ, seems to have played his early youth hockey there for the Jr Coyotes. Played Pens Elite 2 seasons at 15 and 16 before being drafted into the WHL (Calgary). 

Jacob Cloutier drafted by Winnipeg 7th Round, #220 overall. Originally from Gloucester, Ontario. Played one year at Pens Elite at 15U after playing AAA in Ontario, then moved on to Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and was drafted into the OHL (Saginaw). 

 

https://triblive.com/sports/penguins-3rd-round-pick-charlie-tretheweys-journey-brings-him-back-to-pittsburgh/

FYI on Trethewey. 

[CranjisMcBasketball]

It apparently doesn’t count unless they played AAA mini-mite through Midget 18u. 

[aaaahockey]

18 hours ago, CranjisMcBasketball said:

It apparently doesn’t count unless they played AAA mini-mite through Midget 18u. 

"count" is a strong word.   The question is whether at the price and sales pitch they are giving they are actually developing players or just good at getting a good kid to come in one or two years and play.  If what Zarg posted is correct, they really only truly developed one player of the bunch.   That's still great and all but not like actually developing 7 kids for the NHL.   

[sadday4hockey]

On 7/3/2025 at 11:17 PM, zam said:

Both 5 and 6 are finite numbers. 

One or the other genius it's not ambiguous so do some work and get the actual number.

 

[sadday4hockey]

19 hours ago, CranjisMcBasketball said:

It apparently doesn’t count unless they played AAA mini-mite through Midget 18u. 

The organization was formed specifically with the intent to make AAA hockey in Pittsburgh better and more affordable for Pittsburgh players

than it was before their inception. That was the original plan in writing when the Dick's Sponsorship was announced.

 

You all get to judge how well they've done.

[zam]

7 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

One or the other genius it's not ambiguous so do some work and get the actual number.

 

Hey Genius, Finite doesn't mean the same thing as ambiguous. 

 

As far as giving an organization "Credit" Shattuck St Mary's seems to get lots of "credit" for the players that come out of there, but they only have U14 and older teams. So, those kids came from somewhere else. And very few of their good players play more than 2 seasons there, so by the logic of this board, they don't really develop anyone there either. So, where do all the good players come from? And where is it affordable?

 

[hockeydadlife]

8 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

The organization was formed specifically with the intent to make AAA hockey in Pittsburgh better and more affordable for Pittsburgh players

than it was before their inception. That was the original plan in writing when the Dick's Sponsorship was announced.

 

You all get to judge how well they've done.

Must have Made enough to buy that expensive baseball card…lol.  Seriously, the hometown kid had the skill and people around him to make it. The others came to play with him, mostly, and try to be seen when the scouts were watching. Kudos to them all!

Edited 14 hours ago by hockeydadlife

[aaaahockey]

20 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

The organization was formed specifically with the intent to make AAA hockey in Pittsburgh better and more affordable for Pittsburgh players

than it was before their inception. That was the original plan in writing when the Dick's Sponsorship was announced.

 

You all get to judge how well they've done.

Exactly