We were all in agreement that V2's were a good thing for those that had them.

But to say that the level of competition drops is seeing the glass as half empty.

Yes, the V2's that "drop down" to JV AAA MIGHT be playing against lesser competition, but, Father Judge, Ryan, HGP and the rest that don't support V2's will benefit from the competition of now playing LaSalle, Malvern and O'Hara's second team. So while five teams (The V2's) might suffer in your mind by playing JV teams....the other AAA JV teams will benefit by now being able to play the top teams true JV squads.

And who is to say that Judge's or Ghost's JV team arent as good as a Twin Valley or Neuman Gueretti Varsity, it may not be as big of a dropoff as you think. HGP JV doesnt play V2 because they are a PIAA team whose athletic director cringes at the idea.....not because they couldn't compete with other V2 or weaker varsity's

What this does is LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD for all the AAA teams. In the past before LaSalle had a second varsity, their JV team was in a league with some small public (and some large) and were 10 goaling some of them, that was the reason to move them to varsity (I think)......now they will be in a league with other like (AAA) schools, playing for the same goal. Developing thier players to eventually become varsity players against the schools that they compete with at the varsity level.

I think this is a good thing and I thank the league presidents and the AAA reps at the meeting last night for getting this done (Unanimously I might add)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Matt Sacks,

Ralphy, I understood it the way HGP fan explained.

If their is a third team, that team would now be the JV A team and for example LaSalle's JV A team would play in the SHSHL JVA division.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Sacks:
Ralphy, I understood it the way HGP fan explained.

If their is a third team, that team would now be the JV A team and for example LaSalle's JV A team would play in the SHSHL JVA division.

Is that a strict rule ? 3rd team =JVA or will the AAA schools be able to place their third team in the approprite JV league like the other schools (AA, A, B)? LaSalle's JV team last season played AA and won the regular season and lost in the playoff final. Them playing A might have been bad for the other A teams. Not that Spring League means anything but the team that "LaSalle" has entered in JVA with some incoming freshmen and players going into 10th grade is undefeated and ran up some big scores. I know a few of the better imcoming freshmen (Tier I players) aren't playing. JVA might not be the right spot for them in the fall.

Also what if they only have 2 teams? The second one is automatically JV AAA and can't opt out to JVAA, A, or B right?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fellows,

First of all, for the AAA teams playing in the same league together is certainly a good thing (as opposed to they way it was), their second teams playing together also a good thing. Level playing field - yes, good for the long term of HS hockey and the AAA schools yes, it's a very good thing, 100% agreed Matt.

Half empty or half full is in the eyes of the beholder. The most affected would be LaSalle and MP. They will still get a lot of good hockey players regardless of what the second team is, JV, V2 whatever, I really don't think that will change, and as you agreed, most of those don't go to these schools for the primary reason of playing hockey there, so really the public schools will see little or no benefit from this.

For a LaSalle II team that went toe to toe in very competitive games this past season with the West Chester teams, Perk Valley, Methacton and the like, it's certainly a step down in competition, how could it not be??? Some of those players who knew they would never make the AAA team hung in and played for their HS because they could play a very competitive level (some of them played there instead of club because it was an option available), now with the "drop" of a level, the less likely some of these kids will continue to play there and play just club instead, or not play at all. That was what I meant by less players/less competition.

Not the end of the world by any means. And before someone jumps in again and says it's not their right to play Varsity - I agree. It existed. For the players it affects that are already in these schools, it's unfortunate, but LaSalle has already gone through it dropping from 4 "varsities" (the fourth a one year blip being driven by SHSHL) to two varsity and a JV in one year. So the kids there already have dealt with it.

Overall it's a good thing. I just hate the fact there are people out there (not you Matt) that are rejoicing now because they now feel that they are taking away from the "haves" and think there will be more for them (and they're not interested in dealing with the other irregularities that make HS hockey different than other HS sports). I understand that taking from the "haves" was not the primary reason for doing this, but for those who may have had this as an underlying factor, it was wrong reason.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ralphy,

Indiana, Cathedral Prep, Gateway, Butler will not have varsity teams in the PIHL. Meadville will have a AA team.

If no other teams drop down or up, PIHL will have 19 PA AAA, 15 PA AA, and 16 PA A. The open division will have 18 PA teams. Hopefully, the open division will go away once the WV form their own league with SE Ohio.

Lakeshore League has 4 PA teams, not sure if they are pure or impure teams but they are not Penguin Cup eligible anyways.

Did the new league (not sure on the name) attempt to include CPIHL or Lehigh Valley League? CPIHL has the best web site by far.
CPIHL has 40 PA teams by my count and LVSHL has 7 Pure PA teams.

They are first trying to get the four Philadelphia area leagues in order. Hopefully, after that is in place, the CPIHL and LVSHL will also sign on.

quote:

Originally posted by Friar00:
Look, I understand the arguments for purity. Schools should have 1 Varsity, 1 Jr Varsity and maybe a freshman team. My problem is that this change is coming exactly in the middle of my son's high school career. Other decisions may (or may not) have been made if the new, pure league existed before he started but it's too late now. We're not in it for ice hockey alone but it's part of the experience. It's just a shame for him to end V2s now. He had something and now it's being taken away.

oh FRIAR-I guess this is all about you and your kid and he will be the next Sidney Crosby! What about all those kids who suffered over the years and stuck with a program cause they did not want to leave the school?

Friar--get a life! (typical Malvern parent)

This will actually help a ton of schools out there who will field a Varsity team and now be able to obtain players to make it a little even in the playing field. You can always transfer to another school and if your kid is that good, maybe he will make their Varsity team.

Hey is your kid at the school for the education or just for playing hockey?? Just so you are aware, you kid is not going to be playing Division 1 hockey and he is better off concentrating on his education.

quote:

Originally posted by hockeyheads:

quote:

Originally posted by Friar00:
Look, I understand the arguments for purity. Schools should have 1 Varsity, 1 Jr Varsity and maybe a freshman team. My problem is that this change is coming exactly in the middle of my son's high school career. Other decisions may (or may not) have been made if the new, pure league existed before he started but it's too late now. We're not in it for ice hockey alone but it's part of the experience. It's just a shame for him to end V2s now. He had something and now it's being taken away.

oh FRIAR-I guess this is all about you and your kid and he will be the next Sidney Crosby! What about all those kids who suffered over the years and stuck with a program cause they did not want to leave the school?

Friar--get a life! (typical Malvern parent)

This will actually help a ton of schools out there who will field a Varsity team and now be able to obtain players to make it a little even in the playing field. You can always transfer to another school and if your kid is that good, maybe he will make their Varsity team.

Hey is your kid at the school for the education or just for playing hockey?? Just so you are aware, you kid is not going to be playing Division 1 hockey and he is better off concentrating on his education.

Het Matt...seems pretty disrespectful...you going to edit or delete this or not? As you did others earlier today?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fellows,

Well fellows, I sent you an email regarding your concerns and it was kicked back as the email address doesnt exist.

You need a valid email address to be a registered member, sorry.

look Malvern has always been a rivalry with my family and it is fine! I do not think it is disrespect it is reality! This change is going to be tough on a ton of kids as well as schools/teams. But with any changes there are growing pains and everyone has to go through them.

quote:

Originally posted by hockeyheads:
look Malvern has always been a rivalry with my family and it is fine! I do not think it is disrespect it is reality! This change is going to be tough on a ton of kids as well as schools/teams. But with any changes there are growing pains and everyone has to go through them.

There is only 1 group of kids that this change is "tough" on, it's the Varsity II teams.

This is not going to even the playing field. The top A and AA teams have all been competitive with the AAA teams when in up cycles. Malvern's program, since John Graves left, is no longer a powerhouse. The players have gone from mostly Tier 1 to mostly Tier 2.

By the way, my son is an honors student, he'll to to college based on his grades not hockey. I hope he'll be able to play club at some level.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Friar00,