Mixed Year, Hybrid and Birth Year Teams
Mixed year teams are available to players who are interested in playing their 14 - 20 game PAHL schedule, the potential for a few independent games and 2-4 tournaments (decided by that team's coach) per year. Practices are regularly once a week, with additional practices added on weekend as schedule and ice availability permits. SCIR will field as many mixed year teams as registration numbers allow. Roster sizes vary by age group.
Birth year hockey is offered to members who are looking for more ice-time and development. Each team will consist of players who are from one specific birth year and will play a PAHL schedule, as well as multiple tournaments and independent games throughout the season. Not all teams are guaranteed to play in a AA PAHL division. SCIR does not control placement, the Final Decision is made by the PAHL Placement Committee. The commitment level for these teams is higher, and players are expected to make every effort to attend all team activities.
Each birth year team will have a tournament budget included in the season fees, as well as a budget for scheduling home independent games. Please note that travel costs are not included in the SCIR season fee. There will likely also be some additional cost associated with tournaments and independent games which stretch beyond the built-in budget. Many teams elect to collect funds at the beginning of the season to use as payment for independent games and tournaments, but that is up to each individual team coach and manager. Tournament selection and overall game schedule is at the discretion of the head coach of the team. All of the SCIR certified coaches bring with them their own style and season plans.
Hybrid teams follow the Birth Year model, but are only available to certain age groups. These teams will be a combination of both birth years at that age group.
What do you get for the Birth Year commitment?
- 2 Ice slots per week - 1 hybrid (40 minutes full, 30 minutes half) and 1 full ice
- Weekend practice ice when team is available
- Summer ice 8-10 sessions
- Weekend camp ice in August – in addition to regular weekday ice
- Skating instructors working with team
- Discounted goalie training
- Tournament budget and independent games included in fees
- No “surprise fees”
- See our Season Cost by Team page for more information
Birth Year Team Information for 2022 - 2023 Season
10U Hybrid
Coach: John Beiber
John currently holds a USA Hockey Level 4 coaching certification and has been coaching ice hockey for over 14 years. He has coached all ages and levels of players from Mites to Midget AA. Coach Beiber has coached for the Steel City Ice Renegades, Young Foxes Hockey, Deer Lakes Middle School and Central Catholic High School JV. He is a current board member and the Director of Coaching of the SCIR. John is also the current Vice President of Young Foxes Hockey and has been active with that organization for the past 15 years. Coach Beiber believes skill and skating development is essential to success at the U10 Squirt level. He looks forward to developing all of his players in the upcoming season.
10U families should expect the following:
- Will include top talent from 2012 and 2013 birth years
- At least 2 weekly practices
- 4-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
- 8-12 independent games (may require overnight travel)
- 45 - 55 games in total
- Team will participate in PAHL
2011 Birth Year
Coach: John Beiber
See bio above
2011 families should expect the following:
- At least 2 weekly practices
- 4-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
- 8-12 independent games (may require overnight travel)
- 45 - 55 games in total
- Team will participate in PAHL
2010 Birth Year
Coach: Jake Enders
Jake has coached hockey for six years, most recently coaching the SCIR 18U National Bound team. With the Armstrong Arrows, he was an assistant for the 14U National Bound program. With the Armstrong Riverhawks, he is the current head coach of the JV team. He has won two championships (1 PAHL, 1 PIHL) as a coach. In 2020-2021, Jake coached the Armstrong Riverhawks JV team to an undefeated season (16-0-2) and won the PIHL championship.
Jake spent his playing days with the Armstrong Arrows, Butler Valley, North Pittsburgh and Johnstown Jets before moving on to the Esmark Stars Tier I AAA program. He also played four years of varsity hockey for Kittanning High School.
Jake believes in helping players reach their potential on and off the ice by instilling in them the core values of determination, teamwork, pride and respect. Hockey is the best game in the world and everyone should enjoy the opportunity to play and excel.
2010 families should expect the following:
- At least 2 weekly practices
- 3-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
- 8-12 independent games (may require overnight travel)
- Team will participate in PAHL
2009 Birth Year
2009 Birth Year Coach: CJ Patrick
CJ played his youth hockey for the Pittsburgh Amateur Penguins as well as his junior hockey. He attended Penn State University where he was the captain his junior and senior seasons capturing an ACHA National Championship while earning a spot in the Penn State Hockey Hall of Fame as well as the Fox Chapel Hall of Fame. In addition to coaching the 2009 team since 2020, his coaching resume includes 8U Coordinator and 10U coach for the Steel City Ice Renegades, Head Coach for Patrick Hockey Camps (patrickhockey.com) and Coach for Penn State Hockey Camps. CJ strongly believes in skill development and hockey awareness while limiting travel to a handful of trips per season.
2009 families should expect the following:
- At least 2 weekly practices
- Off-ice yoga workouts
- 4-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
- 10-14 independent games (may require overnight travel)
- 50+ game schedule
- 16-18 skaters and 2 goalies
- Team will participate in PAHL
2008 Birth Year - National Bound
2008 Birth Year Coach: Bob Kozak
Coach Kozak grew up playing hockey in the Pittsburgh area for Fox Chapel High School team. Coach Kozak has been with SCIR for over 10 years beginning in 2010. He started out coaching the youngest of players leading multiple Little Penguins groups as well as serving as the ADM Director for 6 years developing 100’s of boys and girls and their love for hockey. Coach Kozak has also served as Head Coach as of the SCIR 2008 Birth Year team for 4 years, Assistant Coach of the SCIR 2006 Birth Year team, and Assistant Coach at the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite for 2 years. Coach Kozak really enjoys the game and cares about each player. It is his mission to ensure that with hard work, commitment, and teamwork
that each child can develop and play to their full potential while still loving the game of hockey.
The 2008 team plans to compete locally in the PAHL 14U division with the goal of playing at the AA level. In addition, the team will play a competitive AA/AAA independent schedule. This will include independent games against teams from Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, and Philadelphia and 4-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel) such as Superseries AAA, Motown Classic, Harbor Center, CCM Invites.
2008 families should expect the following:
- At least 2 weekly practices
- Off-ice video sessions
- Optional off-ice workouts 1-2X per week
- 15-18 skaters and 2 goalies
- 50+ game schedule
- Team may also participate in MidAm/National Tournament
16U National Bound
Coach: Bob Kozak
See 2008 team for full bio. The 16U National Bound team plans to compete locally in the PAHL 16U AA division. In addition, the team will play a competitive AA independent. This will include independent games against teams from Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, and Philadelphia and 4-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel).
2006 families should expect the following:
- At least 2 weekly practices
- Off-ice video sessions
- Optional off-ice workouts 1-2X per week
- 15-18 skaters and 2 goalies
- 50+ game schedule
- Team may also participate in MidAm/National Tournament
18U National Bound
Coach: Jon Yackmack
2022/2023 SCIR 18U AA National Bound Season Information
It is a realization that as players aged into the late teens, they have become more engaged in social, academic, and school related athletic commitments. With that in mind, the 18U AA NB team will be structured to allow/permit these type of additional commitments while still being fully committed to a high end, Tier II National Bound team with goals of winning PAHL, Top end Tournaments, and strive for a trip to Nationals. The 18U AA NB team “In Season”, will practice one(1) day a week for 1.5 hours starting no later than 8pm on Wednesday. It is likely in early part of season that it will be twice per week for the additional ice time and conditioning.
Season Outline:
PAHL – 2 placement, 20 regular season games – 2 playoffs – 24 Total
Independent Games – (8-12) (to be determined by team and coaches)
- Team Ohio
- ROCO
- Columbus 67s
- Buffalo Regals
Tournaments – 2 to 3 Out of town, potentially 1-2 locally(to be determined by team and coaches)
Possible Tournaments:
- Silver Sticks
- Harbor Center
- CCM Series
- Alpha Tournament Co.
- Silver Stick Finals
- Mid-Ams
- USA Hockey Nationals