quote:

Originally posted by plym_20:
Ralphy, I'd agree with this assessment if it were not true that St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute had won four straight NY State titles and Fairfield Prep had won 7 of the last 10 (and the last 4 straight) CT state titles. These are dynasty programs in their respective areas.

What do St Joes, Fairfield Prep, LaSalle, and Mt St Charles all have in common?

They are PRIVATE institutions.

While these accomplishments should be hearlded, there is something to be said about those public institutions that are able to accomplish similar feats. Those with the most resources, typically win

Yes...and teams such as HGP, LaSalle or Malvern are the ones that do draw the most hockey players to there schools. The talent difference between public and private schools is obvious, but the tournament consisted of all private schools, showing how deep the Delaware Valley is talent wise. While LaSalle wins the tournament, it also helps to display how PA is growing equal with the "upper echelon" NE states.

Snipeshow - I agree with you. Again, I am not taking anything away from LaSalle.

Pit a PUBLIC PA HS team against a PUBLIC MA/RI/NH/CT team and the differences become very apparent.

Here's one PA public HS district to consider. The West Chester team from the Iceline tournament........that was a PA public high school district team. Would they be competitive against a public school HS team from MA/RI/NH/CT or the private AAA HS's in Eastern Pa.?

quote:

Originally posted by gsquared:
Here's one PA public HS district to consider. The West Chester team from the Iceline tournament........that was a PA public high school district team. Would they be competitive against a public school HS team from MA/RI/NH/CT or the private AAA HS's in Eastern Pa.?

That was not a HIGH SCHOOL team. You could also combine the Downingtown's, Central Bucks' and Council Rock's and they would also be very good teams. They have close to or over 1000 boys to choose from each.

Sure all 4 would be competetive in the icshl AAA division, but so would most midget u18 aa teams. Point is both arent high school teams. It would be extremely tough for a regular public high school team to compete in the icshl AAA division year in and year out. in the past 5 years, no public high school would have won the league, and it would be very tough to finish in the top 3. The closest to this would have been Downingtown or WC East in 2004, before the districts split.

Unfortunately, I can only think of WPA public teams that have always been tough and, depending on the year, might be able to compete.

Mt Lebanon, Bethel Park, Meadville. Of those three, I give my nod to Meadville.

My underlying point in all of this was to point out that while success in NE is a GREAT thing, the true testament of "parity" comes with those in the middle of the pack and/or (read public high schools).