Sure, high school hockey in Western Pennsylvania — and just about everywhere else — faces some significant challenges.
Most of them come with a dollar sign attached.
The basic equipment needed to play the game isn’t cheap.
Neither is ice time.
Assuming one can find a rink with some to sell in the first place.
Despite all of that — and, in at least one instance, because of it — Craig Barnett is decidedly bullish on high school hockey in this region as the 2016-17 season gets underway.
And with good reason.
Barnett, first-year commissioner of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, which oversees the high school game in most of the western half of the state, noted that no fewer than 59 teams will be involved this season, and that the reason ice time can be hard to come by is that so many teams need it for practices and games.
“As our population pool grows, we need more ice,” he said.
The PIHL’s member schools, two of which actually are in Wheeling, W.Va., are divided into four varsity classifications:
• 3A, including 11 schools such as North Allegheny and Upper St. Clair.
• 2A, whose 14 members include Moon and Plum.
• 1A, with 20 schools such as Franklin Regional and Montour.
• Classes B and C, whose 14 teams have players from more than one school.
Barnett, a former minor league player who coached Erie Cathedral Prep for the past three years and led the Ramblers to the 2A state title in 2015, also has roots in college and junior hockey.
His clearly is a learned opinion, so it’s worth noting that he believes “there are some very talented hockey players” in the Western Pennsylvania high school ranks.
Part of the reason for that, he said, is that there is more cooperation than conflict among high schools and travel programs in the region. That isn’t the case everywhere, as players often are compelled to choose between playing for one or the other.
“There has been some pretty good cooperation with the amateurs, especially in the Pittsburgh area, where you have kids who are playing for their high school, which I think is a great experience, but they’re also able to play for the Pens Elite or Esmark Stars or play for some other AA or AAA programs,” he said.
“They’re able to combine the travel hockey with their high school experience. That cooperation has kept a lot of very talented hockey players continuing with their high school careers.”
Travel teams generally play on weekends, while high school games tend to be scheduled for Monday through Thursday.
“That’s the biggest reasons we’re able to continue to have these elite players play in the PIHL,” Barnett said.
A number of players who grew up in Western Pennsylvania have reached the NHL, although most left the area to play junior hockey, or for a prep school.
Eventually, Barnett said, he hopes at least some players with professional aspirations will decide that staying home and playing for their high school can help them get where they want to go.
“If I take a snapshot of where we are at today’s time, the kids who are those elite players feel the best path for them probably is looking at juniors,” he said. “But that’s not for everybody.
“I think there are a lot of variables that come into play. High school hockey, you have the opportunity to wear your school’s name on that jersey, which is a great experience.”
And it just might be that the success of the Penguins ultimately will be a factor in elevating the caliber of play in Western Pennsylvania high schools, because of the young players it draws to the sport.
“The Pittsburgh area has done so well,” Barnett said. “When you look at the success of the Penguins and see how many kids are playing Mites and Squirts hockey in Pittsburgh, I can only imagine when they’re in high school, how many good hockey players we’re going to have.
“I think Pittsburgh is the place to be right now.”
Dave Molinari: Dmolinari@Post-Gazette.com and Twitter @MolinariPG
First Published: October 7, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
