16u Predators Coach

[zam]

I think many people would say practices are more important than games. If getting better is your goal. So missing a AAA practice for a high school game, makes sense. 

Also one of your "hostages" said they played too many games, and had so many injuries, but then they want to add 20 more school games on top of that, how does that make sense?

[XPs]

Does anyone know who will be taking over as head coach for the 16U Preds team?

[Corsi]

On 1/4/2026 at 1:11 AM, Pa Hockey said:

Top 10 ? That team  will have a tough time making it out of districts without their coach who fled for greener $$$ pastures of Kool Aid in the middle of the season ?

From what was shared over the past week or so is that the former Preds coach intended on finishing out the season with Preds, but it was higher ups in the Preds organization that fired him when they heard about the move.  

[e72923]

4 hours ago, XPs said:

Does anyone know who will be taking over as head coach for the 16U Preds team?

ty and a. kuqali

[Nepotisim_anyone]

What’s the latest? Heard pens parents are concerned about next season already. Preds takeover?

[zam]

I have my doubts the Pens families are panicked about a Preds coach coming in and bringing his guys.  The strongest kids are probably leaving for Junior after this season anyway.  So there will be spots to fill.

This happened a few years ago with the 08s.  Vengeance and Pens both had good teams, the best 2 or 3 vengeance players went over to Pens. The remaining vengeance team was mediocre after that.  

I have no insight into the rosters of either team. But my guess is he will bring over a few of his strongest players remaining in Pittsburgh that want to play AAA 18u.  The guys that he doesn't want will probably just play high school hockey or stay at Preds.  And perhaps there are Preds players that didn't like him as a coach and have a problem with the Pens North Catholic model, and they have no interest in moving to Pens.

If there is one thing I learned in years of being around youth hockey the idea of keeping a team together from year to year never happens.  And moving a whole team from one organization to another is even more unlikely.