Hybrid and Birth Year Teams

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 $4,000 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.

Team Information for 2021 - 2022 Season

10U Hybrid

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 co-registrar 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 2011 and 2012 birth years
  • At least 2 weekly practices
  • 2-4 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
  • 6-12 independent games (may require overnight travel)
  • Team will participate in PAHL

2009/2010 Hybrid

2009/2010 Hybrid Coach: Anthony Quinlan

Anthony has been coaching with the Steel City Ice Renegades for the past five years.He has held various coaching positions assistant to head coach. Anthony currently holds a USA hockey level 4 certification and Bronze goaltending certification. He believes U12 age group is a critical one for player development, skill development and hockey awareness . While also limiting travel as much as possible.

 

2009/2010 families should expect the following:

  • At least 2 weekly practices
  • 3-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
  • 8-18 independent games (may require overnight travel)
  • Team will participate in PAHL

2009 Birth Year

2009 Birth Year Coach for 2020-2021 Season: 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. 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 at the 12U level while limiting travel as much as possible.

 

2009 families should expect the following:

  • At least 2 weekly practices
  • Optional off-season off-ice workouts
  • 3-5 tournaments (may require overnight travel)
  • 8-18 independent games (may require overnight travel)
  • Team will participate in PAHL

2008 Birth Year

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

2006 Birth Year

2006 Birth Year Coach: Bob Kozak

See 2008 team for full bio.  The 2006 team plans to compete locally in the PAHL 16U division with the goal of playing in the division which will offer the most competitive games. 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

16U AA National Bound

16U AA National Bound Coach: Pat Martin

Coach Martin grew up playing hockey in the Pittsburgh area for both Central Catholic and Taylor Allderdice High Schools as well as the Amateur Penguins.  Coach Martin has been coaching at SCIR since 2012 and has also coached the Central Catholic middle school team.  Coach Martin emphasizes skill development, hard work, and a team first mentality.

The 16U team plans to compete in PAHL U16 AA. We believe that playing in the U16 PAHL would provide a high level of competition without the need to travel extensively.

The team plans to play 4-5 AAA/AA Tournaments giving the team the opportunity to compete against other 16U AAA/AA teams at tournaments such as:

  • Superseries AAA (Rochester, New Jersey, Green Puck…)
  • CCM World Invites. (Chicago, Nashville)
  • Motown Classic
  • Silversticks
  • Harbor Center
  • West Michigan Invite
  • Nations Cup

Play in Local 16U Tournaments such as ATC , My Hockey and Hockey Time.

Play 15-20 Independent games against AAA/AA competition such as teams from:
Pittsburgh
Columbus
Buffalo
Cleveland
Detroit
Philadelphia

We would project this team will play 30 plus games locally within western PA.

2-3 Practices per week including Skill type Sessions
50+ Games schedule
15-18 Skaters and 2 Goalies

18U National Bound

18U National Bound Coach: Jake Enders

Jake has coached hockey for five years. 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.

18U National Bound families should expect the following:

  • At least 2 weekly practices
  • 18 skaters and 2 goalies
  • 50+ game schedule
  • Team may also participate in MidAm/National Tournament