The way we do it now is pretty good. Currently AAA has 14 teams, AA has 49 and A has 58 (I may have missed a couple). If you look beyond the numbers you find some interesting things.

Take out the South Jersy Tier II and CPIHL Tier II teams from the equation. The selection committee has made a point not to consider these teams. When you do that we have:

AAA=14
AA=44
A=35

This is a total of 93 eligible teams. Divide that by three classes and we should have approx.31 teams in each division. Which AA teams would you move up to AAA to balance out the divisions?

I respectfully disagree with you. Just because you have teams populating each classification does NOT mean that they are PROPERLY classified. Also, that number for AA seems very high. I was under the impression that the AA classification was significantly underpopulated this season. Matt, are these figures accurate?

The numbers are correct when you include all of the teams in the area.

It would take some time to figure it out with the tier two team excluded, but it looks like its close to what CPIHL1FAN wrote.

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

AAA - moved up the strong catholic schools, 823-up (30 teams)
AA - moved up the strong private schools, 582-814 (38 teams)
A - 547 and down (41 teams)

Most likely the top teams if this was the set up using ushsho.com rankings....
AAA - LaSalle, Malvern Prep, Cardinal O'Hara, Holy Ghost
AA - Haverford, Freedom, Conestoga, Council Rock South, W.C. Henderson, W.C. East, W.C. Rustin
A - Kennett, Muhlenberg, Perkiomen Valley, Springfield (D), Bishop McDevitt


AAA
North Penn,Pennsbury,Upper Darby, Neshaminy,Easton,Parkland,Liberty,Emmaus,Father Judge,Abington,Archbishop Ryan,Cumberland Valley,Pennridge,Hempfield,Bensalem,Central B South, Coatesville,William Tennent, Ridley,LaSalle,Cardinal O'Hara,Saint Joes Prep,Monsignor Bonner,Roman Catholic,Bishop Shanahan,Holy Ghost Prep,Malvern Prep,Germantown Academy, Council Rock North,Boyertown,Council Rock South
AA
Souderton,Norristown,Northampton,Freedom,Penn Manor,Central Dauphin,Central B East,Central B West,Conestoga,Downingtown West, Springford, Wilson,Downingtown East, Manheim Township,Quakertown,Dallastown,Hatboro-Horsham,Methacton,Red Lion,Carlisle,Haverford, Cedar Crest,Phillipsburg, Central York, Upper Dublin,Central Dauphin East, Plymouth/Whitemarsh, Cheltenham,Cedar Cliff,W.C. East,Lower Dauphin, Wissahickon, W.C. Rustin,Warwick,W.C. Henderson,Interboro, Archbishop Wood, Haverford School
A
Conestoga Valley,Perkiomen Valley,Penncrest,Garden Spot, Garnet Valley,Red Land,Ephrata,Chichester,Strathhaven,Cocalico,Elizabethtown,Unionville,Mechanicsburg,Marple Newtown,Great Valley,Sun Valley,Springfield (D),Hershey,Kennett,Radnor,Upper Moreland,Susquehannock,Lampeter-Strasburg,Susquehanna Twp.,West York, Muhlenberg,Conwell-Egan, Kennard-Dale,Palmyra,Northern Lebanon,York Suburban,ELCO,Bishop McDevitt, Crusaders,Lansdale Catholic, Middletown,Springfield (M),,Pequea Valley, Annville-Cleona,Saint Pius X,Episcopal

Sorry,
You cant set up tiers based on last seasons rankings. The teams are differnt, the rosters, the coach's everything.

We've gotten away from setting up tiers based on perceived strength....doing it that way would be taking two steps backwards.

not only that... but those "rankings" at ushsho.com don't really make sense.

it's like a BCS formula system, and the stats are skewed/innacurrate/not updated/don't take strength of schedule into consideration

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy18:
not only that... but those "rankings" at ushsho.com don't really make sense.

it's like a BCS formula system, and the stats are skewed/innacurrate/not updated/don't take strength of schedule into consideration

It does take into count the strength of schedule, actually half of it is based on SoS.

Yes, EPA is not updated, missing many scores. There is over 130 schools, no way one person could do it all. I mean a few teams did send in scores but not a lot. CPIHL was easy to do, I just copied and pasted the scores into spreadsheet while other league sites, it was not possible. The rankings would work perfect if every score was submitted, maybe next year we could do this or get a lot of schools to at least have a web site or update their web site with all scores. Rankings are near perfect for a lot of states.

Matt, the three divisions were divided by enrollment #'s with stronger private schools moved up.

I have this "master prop" in my mind but given the way things have panned out this week, I probably won't get a chance to get it all down so I will cut to the chase. Please note, my "plan" (just an opinion really) is based on the frustrations harbored by many. Anyway, here goes:

A UNIFIED state "governing body" that establishes a set of rules/regs/by-laws, etc that are followed by ALL member clubs. Two biggest points 1) use PIAA enrollment numbers across the board - reclassed every 3 years - schools can play up but NOT down (i.e. Meadville); 2)Pure teams only - non-pures can be affiliate members but have no voting power - this is basically a local (league) issue.

The league board would be comprised of the presidents of all member leagues. Also, three (or the number needed greater than three to produce an odd-person board for tie breaking purposes)independent persons would be appointed to board for neutrality sake. Any league not in existance at the original time of statewide association (PA Interscholastic Hockey Assoc) will be required to be an associate member for two seasons (with no voting rights) at the conclusion of which their full membership will be voted on by existing members.

Allow the local leagues to control the season WITH regional playoffs between leagues (much like the east does now (8 leagues) excepting the Flyers Cup rather than the west which has one eligible league).

Break the State up into regions/districts: NW PA (Erie, Meadville, etc.), SW (Pittsburgh), NE (Scranton, W-Barre, Lehigh Valley), SE (Philly), Capitol (HBG/York/Lanco), and Central (Altoona, State College, far-east of Pittsburgh).

The regional championships shall be designated with the regional professional team (Pit>Pens Cup; Phill>Flyers Cup; Capitol>Bears Cup; Erie>Otters Cup; etc.). There shall be a champ crowned at every level provided a team exists at that level within the region. Additional at large seeds may be required should a region not have a team at a certain level due to enrollment numbers.

Out of each region comes a "champ" at each level thereby producing 6 contenders for the State Championship at each level. Two additional teams picked from abroad based on voting from PAIHA reps (see above). In regions where numerous leagues reside (i.e. Philly) the league champ faces opposing league champ for right to be regional champ and represent that region at Icy 8(league>regional>icy eight)

The format would be an "Icy Eight" format where seedings would be drawn out of a hat. Championship weekend would run two days at a central, rotating location.

Again, this is just the abridged version. I will gladly expand if anyone cares. Bottom line, this is an attempt to 1) defeat certain monopolies while giving power back to the leagues to allow their best teams the right to shine on a regional/state level, and 2) create a unified hs ice hockey approach across the state that mirrors the PIAA by a) using standardized enrollment numbers for all leagues w/in the state, and b) a regional/district playoff format that will (in theory) allow the best teams in the state to compete for a state title rather than just the east & west "champ"

That sounds like a good idea but not sure if people will go for it. Alot of people would have to give up control of thier current leagues and i am not sure how many people would be willing to do that.

Sounds like a good plan. Details would need to be clarified in the regions. And like Jigga says A LOT of people have to put egos aside and do what's best for the players.

PIAA reclassifies every TWO years.

Big question is how many sets of State Championship trophies would be needed?