IUP club hockey

[Stillers1979]

Now that my son is done I’ve been wanting to say this for years while he was part of the program. I debated posting this hopefully this helps kids in the future or can inspire change. The school has its flaws but as a school it’s pretty good value due to the cost. Hockey, not so much. Just seeing some socials about their recent camp finally got me off my butt to write this 
 

my son was the one of the lucky ones he was part of the click played with some of these guys in youth friends with some but I do feel bad for some of the other kids that go play there. Yes, my kid benefited let’s get that out of the way.
 

It all started to go downhill when slippery rock got put on suspension. pa hockey brought his kid the coach from slippery rock showed up. During the end of their reign another parent and their kid took over. we would laugh and watch this team manger run over and get the score sheet every game to make sure his kid was getting his assist’s to become the all time points leader at iup. Now the last two years or so, Armstrong’s president and his kids have taken over. Iup has turned into daddy hockey at its finest. It’s crazy to think this is even happening in college with players that are now adults. If you are friends with certain kids or dads you will be on team one. This is why we get our butts kicked first round at nationals every year or worse, do not win the weak chma some years. We have some big kids with good talent on team 2 that could have helped. Never saw any of them get a call up some should have made it right out of tryouts. The best players do not get put on team one. We had all these small and average size guys trying to show off and do Michigan’s every game they post it all over socials. when it comes time to play the good teams that have guys that are all 6’1 - 6’5  these smaller guys literally get knocked off the puck, pushed around, beat in the corners, physically dominated by players that are bigger But hey look so and so scored a Michigan and had 4 goals against one of the worse teams in the country. Size and strength is a huge issue when playing the good teams. There is a lot of self entitlement with certain players and parents. Heck, we still had parents drinking in the parking lot before club hockey games like it’s a U14 AA tournament in Cleveland!!! It was embarrassing at times, especially when the team manger would be hanging out in the parking lot with said parents! being at games, seeing the way some parents acted along with some (not all) of the players, often reminded me why the female goalie incident happened at Armstrong the way it did. Same kids, same parents, same president. Same terrible humans. 
 

Those kids playing on the second team really get shat on. They are paying the same price we did (over 3k) they get no internet streams. coaches that don’t care along with little to no social media stuff. There was a weekend last year both Lawrence tech teams came to iup to play. After we (team 1) played LT team 1. the student broadcast team starting packing things up as both schools second teams were taking the ice. I thought to myself, why can’t they stay and broadcast the second team? I see tons of streams for second and third teams on the internet (RMU & WVU locally, Kent state I can go on and on) I ask one of the guys, everything is set up why are you folks not covering the second team. The answer was “we were not told to, we work for team 1” such a shame, the equipment was set up, everything was there, these kids shelling out all this money get treated like red head step kids. LT’s second team I think was one of the top teams last year. this just furthers my point of daddy hockey and making it about certain kids. Can’t use any resources for the betterment of the ENTIRE PROGRAM!  I was told last year a few of the guys on team two wised up, quit and said they were not paying any money due to how the team is treated & run. Good for them! That team is just a money train to fund the daddy hockey of team 1. To put out that kind of money for what they get is borderline criminal! 
 

Hopefully this gives some insight for any folks looking at club hockey. My hope is this inspires change at iup hockey for kids in the future.the cycle of daddy hockey is removed. all the teams get real coverage the program grows. Thank you for reading. Best of luck to all the future club hockey players! 

Edited August 26, 2025 by Stillers1979
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[Pa Hockey]

First of all the current coach at IUP was let go  by Slippery Rock while my son was at Slippery Rock during his freshman year (2017) , so I nor my son had nothing to do with him landing at IUP nor the SRU demise, so get your facts straight. 

# 2 My son graduated SRU with honors in 2021 and sought a Masters Degree and was interested in an opportunity to play one more year of at IUP and reached out to friends of the family from high school at FR and won 2 Penguins Cups with and the Mid State Mustangs he played in Nationals with to see if IUP was a possibilty and travelled during COVID with several kids from SRU to make it happen on his own. Much consideration was given to Pitt, Ohio U, Delaware, Liberty and others after my son led the ACHA M1 in scoring and achieved a lot of team goals, he chose to stay close to home, so his family could watch him play. This kid earned everything he accomplished on his own.

At 25 he owns a home + has good career start + gives his time to caddying and coaching high school hockey. Your characterization of my son and my family is not appreciated and reeks of jealousy and an extreme lack of integrity.

Your character assassination of the coaches and parents of others from IUP is just despicable and I will let those folks fend for themselves. Thank you to IUP and all involved for taking the SRU Kids and running a successful  class operation with several trips to Nationals. 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2025 by Pa Hockey

[Icebucket]

This post is literally just the same crying everyone does about their kid not getting enough ice time. Usually people learn by 14 or 16U that ice time is earned and not given. This guy still hasn't figured it out with a kid who finished college

[Spear and Magic Helmet]

It's been a few years since I was involved in ACHA hockey, but what you described could apply to several of the other CHMA and CHE teams as well. Some of the local teams have local, non-parent leadership. Some don't. I won't go into the drama I saw with local teams back in the 2000s/2010s, but I will say that it happens. Most of the time, the overactive parents are the reason the team exists at all, so it's a bit of a double edged sword for sure. 

[Stillers1979]

5 hours ago, Icebucket said:

This post is literally just the same crying everyone does about their kid not getting enough ice time. Usually people learn by 14 or 16U that ice time is earned and not given. This guy still hasn't figured it out with a kid who finished college

My son played. I’m not here to argue, just wanted to put the facts out now that’s it’s been over. 

Edited August 26, 2025 by Stillers1979

[CranjisMcBasketball]

Sounds like an audit of the books is in order. 

[Stillers1979]

1 hour ago, Spear and Magic Helmet said:

It's been a few years since I was involved in ACHA hockey, but what you described could apply to several of the other CHMA and CHE teams as well. Some of the local teams have local, non-parent leadership. Some don't. I won't go into the drama I saw with local teams back in the 2000s/2010s, but I will say that it happens. Most of the time, the overactive parents are the reason the team exists at all, so it's a bit of a double edged sword for sure. 

I had a friend tell me Duquesne was similar (with out the parents drinking in the parking lot). 

[Stillers1979]

9 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

First of all the current coach at IUP was let go  by Slippery Rock while my son was at Slippery Rock during his freshman year (2017) , so I nor my son had nothing to do with him landing at IUP nor the SRU demise, so get your facts straight. 

# 2 My son graduated SRU with honors in 2021 and sought a Masters Degree and was interested in an opportunity to play one more year of at IUP and reached out to friends of the family from high school at FR and won 2 Penguins Cups with and the Mid State Mustangs he played in Nationals with to see if IUP was a possibilty and travelled during COVID with several kids from SRU to make it happen on his own. Much consideration was given to Pitt, Ohio U, Delaware, Liberty and others after my son led the ACHA M1 in scoring and achieved a lot of team goals, he chose to stay close to home, so his family could watch him play. This kid earned everything he accomplished on his own.

At 25 he owns a home + has good career start + gives his time to caddying and coaching high school hockey. Your characterization of my son and my family is not appreciated and reeks of jealousy and an extreme lack of integrity.

Your character assassination of the coaches and parents of others from IUP is just despicable and I will let those folks fend for themselves. Thank you to IUP and all involved for taking the SRU Kids and running a successful  class operation with several trips to Nationals. 

 

 

 

 

Gee Jeff you really proved my point more all these years later. You glossed over the majority of what I said, just went on to tell us the success of your son.

[Stillers1979]

10 minutes ago, CranjisMcBasketball said:

Sounds like an audit of the books is in order. 

I never heard how it all ended with those kids on team 2 but I would agree with this comment. 

[Pa Hockey]

20 minutes ago, Stillers1979 said:

Gee Jeff you really proved my point more all these years later. You glossed over the majority of what I said, just went on to tell us the success of your son.

First of all the current coach at IUP was let go  by Slippery Rock while my son was at Slippery Rock during his freshman year (2017) , so I nor my son had nothing to do with him landing at IUP nor the SRU demise, so get your facts straight.

You should be ashamed of posting what you did but apparantly have no respect. I wanted to clarify your initial statement and my contributions to the sport speak for 55 years.   Your characterization of my son and my family is not appreciated and reeks of jealousy and an extreme lack of integrity.

Your character assassination of the coaches and parents of others from IUP is just despicable and I will let those folks fend for themselves. Thank you to IUP and all involved for taking the SRU Kids and running a successful  class operation with several trips to Nationals. 

Edited August 26, 2025 by Pa Hockey

[zam]

Wow that is quite the story! Who knew IUP had a hockey team!

What do those dads plan to do once their kids graduate?

[Stillers1979]

3 hours ago, zam said:

Wow that is quite the story! Who knew IUP had a hockey team!

What do those dads plan to do once their kids graduate?

Great question there is not another age group to move up to. 

Edited August 26, 2025 by Stillers1979
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[Pa Hockey]

The Team Manager who supposedly changed scoresheets from Indiana and the Armstrong Family are still building hockey programs in their communities through coaching amd program develop and support for decades .

People like Stillers fade into the sunset and hopefully can move on from such a tramatic experience with IUP. 

IUP, Pitt, SRU and Duquesne started in the 1970's and have programs who are self funded unlike Liberty, Adrian, Ohio U, UNLV and other ACHA M1 schools  who have lots of money behind them. IUP John Carroll RMU Duquesne and Pitt have enhanced their schedule regionally and nationally. which will help when they face National Powers aforementioned.  

Your character assassination of the coaches and parents of others from IUP is just despicable and I will let those folks fend for themselves. Thank you to IUP and all involved for taking the SRU Kids and running a successful  class operation with several trips to Nationals. 

FYI - I, with the help of others including the late Ron Steedle and IUP started the IUP You Tube Webcasts and broadcast for 3 years after doing the same at SRU and for the CHMA for 5 years and promoted ALL of the Players for ALL of  the schools .........................Thats what I do and I support IUP Hockey and have for 30-years with the late Hall of Famer Sam Kelly 

Edited August 27, 2025 by Pa Hockey

[Stillers1979]

11 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

 

FYI - I, with the help of others including the late Ron Steedle and IUP started the IUP You Tube Webcasts and broadcast for 3 years after doing the same at SRU and for the CHMA for 5 years and promoted ALL of the Players for ALL of  the schools .........................Thats what I do and I support IUP Hockey and have for 30-years with the late Hall of Famer Sam Kelly 

Jeff you helped just the teams your kid was on same team my kid eventually was on. I literally pointed out how the broadcast team AFTER our game packed up and left as iup’s second team (m3) was taking the ice against the previous m3 national champions top ranked Lawrence Tech. I ask on my way out why wouldn’t you folks cover this game the answer is in my original post.
 

You glossed over my original post to make it about you, all the teams that wanted your kid, the success your son has had after college. My original post had nothing to do with your kids degree, the house he purchased, what schools he could have transferred to or how he is doing in life since college ended.
 

My post was about iup hockey as a whole. go sling some books out of your car. My time around you was short but I can tell you the current regime is only about taking care of their own not growing the program. I’m not here to argue, this post was to share the experience my son had at iup while playing club hockey. you do realize kids from both team 1 & 2 at iup have transferred out or quit since last year? The program is going backwards. It’s daddy hockey, that’s it. They are living some dream like it is ncca d1. John Carrol with a bunce of out of HS Ohio kids won the chma last year with some help from a few Pittsburgh kids who were wise enough to leave this region if they were going to play club hockey, finding a school that worked for their studies. 
 

answer this question since you are so about the players, growing hockey as I quoted it above from your reply. Why would that broadcast team just pack up and not do team 2 playing a m3 powerhouse (L tech)?  I told you what they said to me when I ask on my way out. That’s not how you grow a program. It’s widely known how mishandled the funds are. I was also told the captains of team 2 last year wanted an audit, I suppose that’s what made them quit and not pay but I don’t know enough about that situation just what my kid told me and hersey from parents. 
 

Edited August 28, 2025 by Stillers1979

[Pa Hockey]

You posted I brought Joe Honzo to IUP and I was the beginning of Daddy Hockey ? 

First of all the current coach at IUP was let go  by Slippery Rock while my son was at Slippery Rock during his freshman year (2017) , so I nor my son had nothing to do with him landing at IUP nor the SRU demise, so get your facts straight.

FYI - I, with the help of others including the late Ron Steedle and IUP started the IUP You Tube Webcasts and broadcast for 3 years after doing the same at SRU and for the CHMA for 5 years and promoted ALL of the Players for ALL of  the schools .........................Thats what I do and I support IUP Hockey and have for 30-years with the late Hall of Famer Sam Kelly

answer this question since you are so about the players, growing hockey as I quoted it above from your reply. Why would that broadcast team just pack up and not do team 2 playing a m3 powerhouse (L tech)?  I told you what they said to me when I ask on my way out. That’s not how you grow a program. It’s widely known how mos manahed the funds are uo there too. 

IUP Had NO Broadcast when we arrived at IUP in 2021 and since we had done Webcasts for SRU and CHMA for nearly 5 years plus HS Hockey for many years for FREE, IUP asked us to do the games and I suggested that WVU did games on You Tube for FREE. Steedle and I volunteered as we had done at SRU 3 years to do the games. We had a great following and did this after Jamie graduated one year and then were not asked back and it was turned over to IUP Students. D-2 was never discussed nor were we ever approached the 2 years we did the job.  We promoted ALL of the Players for ALL of  the schools .........................Thats what I do

DereK Conner is the GM of IUP and I am sure if handled properly would have entertained a request. I am only the messenger. 

Don't just make shit up and not expect to be held accountable 

Edited August 28, 2025 by Pa Hockey

[Rinkshrink01]

I don’t think an audit would bode well for the club. Scholarship players on D1 for sure with D3 paying the freight. The team does compete well but doesn’t stand a chance like most teams that make nationals in D1…. You are basically competing against a few teams that will likely be playing NCAA D1 in a few years… those schools are well funded and have sponsorships.

IUP has none of that and likely never will. But what it does have is its own rink (community owned) and a school that is really affordable and a great chance to build and maintain a solid program. 
 

They had a core group of players that recruited their friends to come and play. That being said who plays on D1 or D3 is elementary but when players get scholarships and other players pay for it… that’s a huge problem.  If a player gets any reduction in cost against the rest the whole program should vote for it… because the coat is passed on. 

Edited August 29, 2025 by Rinkshrink01

[CranjisMcBasketball]

An audit would be an absolute disaster for the program. 

[nemesis8679]

4 hours ago, CranjisMcBasketball said:

An audit would be an absolute disaster for the program. 

Anybody playing there and paying money should have the right to see the financials. 

[Pa Hockey]

Audit of what?

This is a student run organization. 

[Rinkshrink01]

@Pa Hockeythe fact that you said “audit of what” is ridiculous… you know exactly what everyone is talking about here.  How many players on the D1 team paid none or reduced fee? Yes it is a student run org and that’s precisely why they should be able to see the financials.  There should be board meetings with minutes and a published financial statement. 

[Pa Hockey]

All I know is our family paid at SRU and IUP ++> Tuition + Rent + a  Player Fee plus I paid for Hotels for Hockey+ Meals and I Volunteered to Broadcast the games.

 

Both coaches I know have full time jobs and give a ton of time to the program, so if  they get paid great. The Budget for D 1 was $ 100000 - $200000 and that depends on travel and ice cost. My advice is call the General Manager of IUP Hockey and Im pretty sure the school has the info.

Good Luck !

 

Edited August 28, 2025 by Pa Hockey

[Stillers1979]

13 hours ago, Rinkshrink01 said:

If a player gets any reduction in cost against the rest the whole program should vote for it… because the coat is passed on. That’s why the D3 team asked for an audit they they never recieved. 

Great information this explains what I heard the entire time my son was there. this more than likely explains why those guys quit and did not want to pay their bill. I would not doubt during my sons time there were guys paying a reduced cost just like we saw in youth hockey. Parents “volunteer” that’s why half them got into hockey just to reduce a bill and lobby for their kids  But at the college club level they are young men this all should be over with, not allowed. 
 

your post reinforces what I saw with the daddy hockey & friends it also brings to light why those kids on team 2 get nothing. Guys use to joke when it was time to submit a payment “so and so needs to make their new car payment” guess it wasn’t really a joke.  

Edited August 28, 2025 by Stillers1979
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[Stillers1979]

4 hours ago, Rinkshrink01 said:

@Pa Hockeythe fact that you said “audit of what” is ridiculous… you know exactly what everyone is talking about here.  How many players on the D1 team paid none or reduced fee? Yes it is a student run org and that’s precisely why they should be able to see the financials.  There should be board meetings with minutes and a published financial statement. 

You are 100% correct. Just like PIHL school teams the meetings should be posted financials should be open to the members. 
 

I’m not bothering replying to Jeff anymore. He was the one that paved the way imo, its just got more ridiculous since he’s moved on. that’s why he just glosses over most of the posts and regurgitates the same reply over and over. He knows it. 

Edited August 28, 2025 by Stillers1979

[Stillers1979]

On 8/27/2025 at 8:12 PM, Pa Hockey said:

DereK Conner is the GM of IUP and I am sure if handled properly would have entertained a request. I am only the messenger. 

Don't just make shit up and not expect to be held accountable 

Request? Those guys on the second team should not have to request anything. They should get it, they are paying for it. They should have all the same benefits my kid had on team 1.  as @Rinkshrink01 pointed out, appears they are also footing the bill for the entire program.  Looking online currently they had like 30 kids on the second team last year. I would bet that pulled in 90-100k! the price you said it cost for team 1 to operate with all the bells, whistles, social media & internet broadcasts.

You build a program by running all your men’s and if applicable woman’s teams the same. 

Edited August 29, 2025 by Stillers1979

[stickboy]

On 8/26/2025 at 10:44 AM, Stillers1979 said:

Gee Jeff you really proved my point more all these years later. You glossed over the majority of what I said, just went on to tell us the success of your son.

Amen!  Surprised he didn’t throw an ad in for one of his tournaments too.