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Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

Pittsburgh Penguins Elite:

First, can you tell readers about your program and how it got started?

About eight years ago a group of parents who wanted to create an elite level hockey program for girls in Pittsburgh formed an under-12 team called the Pittsburgh Lady Iceburghs and we competed in a few tournaments every year. The purpose was to create a program here in Pittsburgh, so that elite level girls did not have to leave Pittsburgh to pursue high level girls’ hockey if they didn’t want to. We have achieved that goal and exceeded our expectations by creating an entire program for girls from all over the tri-state region and beyond!

We added the older teams as the girls got older and we kept developing the younger girls to move up in the program. Many of those girls have moved onto college hockey, but some of them are still in our program today. Two seasons ago we proudly joined under the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite banner and our teams are recognized as some of the top girls teams in the Nation, top to bottom. We are now the only all girls USA Hockey organization in Southwestern Pennsylvania, which provides opportunities for girls ages 6 up to 19.

Who can qualify to play and how – and how many people participate?

We hold tryouts every spring for our elite teams, under-12 up to under-19. But, we also have open sessions throughout the year for girls under-10 and under-8, down to 5-6 years old! Any young girl can sign up at any time. We currently have about 150 girls participating in the program between the Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams and developmental (under-10 and under-8).

Who do you play and what tournaments do you participate in?

All our teams play in the premiere hockey league for girls in the US, the Tier 1 Elite League and our older teams play in the most highly competitive and well scouted tournaments and showcases in the US — to include the Beantown Classic in Boston, North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) labor Day Tournament in Vermont, the Stoney Creek Showcases in Hamilton, ONT and the USA-Canada Cup Series held in Toronto, Detroit and Kitchener where only the top US and Canadian teams play against each other to win the “cup” for their country!

The younger teams also participate in “fun” tournaments such as Hocktoberfest and the Manon Rheaume Foundation Invite. We also host one of the largest hockey tournaments in the US, right here in Pittsburgh — the Pittsburgh Girls Thanksgiving Classic.

What skills do you focus on most and what techniques do you use with these athletes?

We believe that the fundamentals of hockey (skating, passing, shooting) are the most important to continue to practice at every level. We provide 5.5 hours of on-ice practice every week which focuses mainly on skills, but also works on other team concepts such as cycling, systems, etc.

Many of our girls continue to play and practice with the boys as well, which is completely accepted and supported, so they are getting a lot of ice time and development. One team is not more important than any other and each team whether under-10 or under-19 is
supported with an age appropriate on and off-ice plan.

Do the Penguins get involved and if so, how?

We are obviously proud to be affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins as we bare their name and jersey/logo. They are extremely supportive and provide advisory support and help us to promote girls’ hockey in many ways through their Youth Hockey Network.

How has the increased fan interest in the Penguins over the past 5 or so years enhanced your program and interest in it?

Hockey has grown in general in Western PA, but certainly the popularity of the Penguins has helped us to grow fans and young fans, including young girls wanting to play the sport. We hold regular “open skates” for free for young hockey girls and we have had girls as young as 4 years old come out and skate. This is exciting for the sport and our program. We plan to be around for the next
10 years to help those girls move on to college hockey.

What’s the next step for these athletes – where do they play next?

Just about each and every girl has a goal of playing NCAA college hockey (which is basically the NHL for girls). We have only had u19 teams for the last 3 years and right now we have approximately 10 girls playing NCAA D1 or D3 hockey, including girls at Dartmouth, Cornell, Norwich, Northeastern and more. We already have 4 girls on the current under-19 team committed to NCAA D1 schools for 2012, including Penn State with their new program starting up.

Is there a professional league, and if so, have any of your alumni played there?

There is a professional league called the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) which is in its infancy and the players aren’t paid. None of our alums have played there (yet) because we are a very young organization, with all of our alums still of college age.

Where can fans see you play and how does this experience differ from those of other leagues, if at all?

The best place to really check out our teams and girls’ hockey in general would be the Pittsburgh Girls Thanksgiving Classic held over Thanksgiving Weekend at Robert Morris University and the Iceoplex at Southpointe. There is no gate fee for spectators, and I think that everyone will be surprised at the level of play by the girls!

Any last thoughts for readers?

Any girl out there playing hockey who isn’t involved with Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls should contact us at PensEliteGirls@aol.com While it is great to keep playing boys’ hockey as long as girls are comfortable, we offer elite level girls the coaching (professional coaches who have all played at a high level, including female coaches who played for Dartmouth, St. Lawrence University and Harvard) and more importantly, the exposure to help them play at the next level!

Come check us out!

Leigh Steinberg

Leigh Steinberg (September 10, 2011)

Follow Leigh on Twitter: @SteinbergSports
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First, can you tell readers how you got started as a sports agent and the biggest misperception some have about sports agents

Back in 1975 there wasn’t an established field of sports representation, it was more like the Wild Wild West. The right of representation in the NFL was not guaranteed until the 1977 Collective Bargaining Agreement and executives like Mike Brown of the Bengals would say “we don’t deal with agents” and hang up the phone.

I was attending law school at the University of California at Berkeley in the early 1970’s and working my way through school as a dorm counselor in an undergraduate dormitory. They moved the freshman football team into the dorm one year and one of the students was Steve Bartkowski, quarterback on the team, who went on to be selected as the first player in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Continue reading “Leigh Steinberg”

Stephanie Maust – Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey Association

Stephanie Maust – Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey Association:

First, can you let readers know how the Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey Association and the Steel City Icebergs got started?

The origin of Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey dates back to the 2004-2005 Pennsylvania Amateur Hockey League season. Alex Weber, the then 10-year-old Butler native suffering from Down Syndrome and nerve damage to his right leg resulting from a tethered spinal cord, had a dream of playing ice hockey.

Due to his love for the game, Alex’s parents managed to find the time while juggling work, along with his academic tutoring, doctor visits, and physical therapy sessions to substantiate the need for Alex to participate at the Mite level in the PAHL. After considerable investment of time and effort, permission was granted.

During that season, Alex Weber displayed tremendous enthusiasm as he, for the first time, engaged in competitive ice hockey. As his peers prepared to move up to the Squirts, however, Alex’s parents “noticed that the other children were improving their gross motor abilities much quicker and, for safety reasons, opted not to continue his involvement with ice hockey.”

In the years that followed his last season with PAHL, a saddened Alex couldn’t understand why he had to quit playing hockey. His mother, Chris Weber, commented: “I would try and explain to him that it is not possible because the teams he would join now are skating very fast and I am afraid that he will get hurt.” In response, Alex just shrugs his shoulders and says “I’m tough.”

So, it was Alex’s love for the game that inspired the formation of Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey Association. Alex’s life, and that of his parents, is “tough” enough. It is our goal to provide support to special needs individuals by providing a service that will facilitate:

 Physical development

 Character formation

 Social interaction

 Self-esteem

The lives of families with disabled children are filled with constant struggle–the struggle to: learn simple tasks most of us take for granted, attain the highest possible level of self-sufficiency, strive toward near grade-level academic achievement, and surmount countless barriers survival in this world presents to the handicapped. However, for parents, the stress and worry of meeting these challenges is offset by the joyful spirit “special” individuals so often possess.

It is our hope that in addition to the players’ self-enrichment, involvement in special hockey activities will provide desperately needed “downtime” for the overburden families of participants as well as a forum in which the entire family may come together for mutual enjoyment.

How is the league funded and run?

The league is funded through the generosity of local individuals, organizations, private grants, and fundraising activities. Center Ice Arena in Delmont, PA donates ice to allow us to have more practices than would have otherwise been possible for us. At this time, we are a 100% volunteer run Organization.

Where can fans see the team play and how can they help support the team?

The Icebergs typically play home games at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. The team has experienced several road games by traveling to Columbus, Ohio to play another special needs team. The team also participated in a national special hockey event in Washington, D.C. and represented the Pittsburgh area in April at the Special Hockey International Tournament hosted in Marlborough, Mass.

Those interested in supporting the team may send a monetary contribution to Greater Pittsburgh Special Hockey Association 101 Powell Road Butler, PA 16002 or contact samaust@zoominternet.net regarding volunteer opportunities.

What part does the Penguins organization have to play in the league and team –how does it help?

The Penguins have been instrumental in the successful launch and continued operation of our organization. In addition to their encouragement, marketing efforts and financial support, the Pens continue to provide enriching opportunities for our athletes and families such as the historic first “Special Hockey Winter Classic” at AE Pavilion on New Year’s Eve 2010, participation in the “Special Hockey International Tournament” near Boston, skating at CONSOL Energy Center, and summer camp with Jim Paek and Phil Bourque. Honestly, I could go on and on! They help immensely!

The Penguins organization has been lauded for their community work and participation in regional hockey –it seems to be a central mission of the organization. What do you think drives this mission and how does it affect your association?

As with any organization, the driving force behind a given mission is corporate management.

In the case of the Penguins, high ideals and a strong commitment to philanthropy seems to be prevalent throughout every level of the organization. As a result, their community endeavors have touched many lives in a way that can only be accomplished when performed in the sincerest spirit of service. This mindset continues to affect our organization in a multitude of positive ways.

What players from the Penguins most frequently help – and how so?

I realize that professional athletes have many responsibilities and demands on their time. From the prospective of prioritizing these diverse demands, I strongly support the Penguin players’ commitment to visit the infirmed patients at Children’s Hospital because these children are not able to get out and enjoy a hockey game or participate in the activities our athletes enjoy.

For these reasons, I have not approached specific players to attend our practices. Should time permit, they are welcome to join any Iceberg event!

How can people get registered to play and what are the criteria for being able to do so?

As with most teams, annual player registration with USA Hockey is required. The current fee charged by USA Hockey is $35 per player. Anyone unable to pay this fee is welcome to contact me. I will do my best to find a sponsor.

What are the greatest challenges you face teaching those with developmental disabilities how to play hockey?

We consider it a great privilege to serve individuals with disabilities. The greatest challenge we face is not on the ice. Rather, it is reaching the area’s disabled individuals to make them aware of our program.

Once they begin attending practices, it is amazing how quickly they learn the skills, gain confidence, become more social, and have fun!

What are the greatest frustrations – and rewards – for coaches/volunteers and players?

From the time the organization was founded, it has been inspirational to observe the needs that occur and the unexpected that arises to fulfill it. We have been blessed by awesome participants, volunteers, and donors. As a whole the experience is so rewarding, I don’t really think of any part of it as frustrating.

When does the team actually take the ice against other teams – and who/when do they do so?

We began scheduling games last year during our second season. Other than the tournaments we attended, we played teams from the Columbus and the D.C. metro area both at our home ice at RMU and away.

What have been some of the greatest successes/stories in your time with the Icebergs?

There have been many success stories. One that continues to stand out in my mind is hearing the news that the doctor of one of our participants made the comment that as long as their child continued to participate in our program, he did not see a need for occupational therapy.

Any other thoughts for readers?

Please take a moment to consider anyone you know with a disability who may benefit from our program. Then, spread the word! //www.pittsburghspecialhockey.org Thank you, in advance, for your time and consideration.

Matt Rosemeyer – Pittsburgh Harlequins

First, for those unaware, can you tell readers a bit about the Harlequins – when they were formed, who you play and where fans can see you play?

The Harlequins were formed in 1973 as the University of Pittsburgh Rugby Club. The team was made up predominantly of Law School and Medical School students at the time, and was soon renamed The Pittsburgh Harlequins. The name came from the “London Harlequins”, one of the top men’s teams in the world at the time.

The Harlequins have played in every public park and median strip on the East Coast, but created our own facility 15 years ago just outside the city in Harmarville. Founders Field still ranks as one of the premier rugby specific venues in North America. The deck of our 8,000sf Clubhouse is the best place in the county to enjoy rugby on a Saturday afternoon.

How did you come up with the name for the team?

As I mentioned, the name came from the London Harlequins after many “lesser names” were discarded by the membership.
Where are most players recruited from – do all have rugby backgrounds?

Most players come to the Harlequins from a College program. Others participated in one of our High school programs or picked up the sport overseas.

We have a growing number of athletes picking up the sport after college- when for most athletes their sports have no pathway to continue. Wrestlers, football players, soccer players, basketball players- really any athlete looking to compete at a higher level often find rugby a good fit.

Who are the standout players on the team and league?

Rugby is very truly a team sport, and as such the team succeeds or fails on the collective success of the team and not on the shoulders of any one or two players. However, there are more than a handful of Harlequin players that have recently gained notice by National team coaches, as well as territorial “all-star” teams.

Nick Koon recently was selected to represent the Mid-Atlantic region in a National All-Star competition, as well as being the leading scorer on the Harlequins team that recently made the National Championship in 7-a-side rugby. Nick plays predominantly in the backs, and is arguably one of the fittest men in Rugby.

Luke Titus recently arrived from Australia and is already having a profound impact on the Harlequins game. Luke played professionally in South Africa and New Zealand, and brings a vision of the game a step beyond what most Americans often experience. His quick decision making and ‘read’ of the field keep things moving in an already very quick game. His background in Rugby League (a similar game to Rugby Union, but with closer similarities to American Football) represents the type of faster, standup-defense that international teams are adopting.

Around the league there are standout players, including several that have made the transition from NFL careers and top level NCAA athletes.

Do many of your players move on to international leagues/overseas?

The Harlequins compete using almost 99% local domestic players. As we mature, more and more players are playing at bigger and better clubs. We have had players go on to play with clubs in Europe, Australia and New Zealand- the big Rugby centers of the world. We have had several players selected for National Team camps at several different age-grades; as well as several high school age players winning scholarships to play in college.

We try and annually send several players to play in one of the Southern Hemisphere countries where rugby is the top sport and they are competing in our off-season. The sport is unique in it’s ability to transcend nationalities- it’s like a giant international brotherhood where you can always find some hospitality with just a few calls.

The Harlequins are more than just a club – you are a club that fields teams across various age groups. How does that work and how can inexperienced rugby players get started?

The great part about rugby is that it is an inclusive sport where if you don’t make the first side, you can play in the second or third side game every Saturday. This way you can train as a team and work your way up in a friendly and competitive atmosphere without having to “ride the bench”. We work with high school coaches around the region to help develop the level of rugby in Western PA, including hosting regional and national tournaments where they can play higher levels of competition.

For those unfamiliar with the game of rugby, how would you describe it’s appeal – what would excite people about the game and game experience?

For spectators Rugby is a great game to watch- especially if you sometime grow tired of TV timeouts and long intermissions! Rugby is played in two 40-minute halves with a running clock- so the action rarely stops- you’ll want to grab your refreshments ahead of time so you don’t miss anything.

For players the appeal is many things. It is a tough physical game, and you have to be fit and smart to do well. Many players like that when they take the field all the choices for the next 80 minutes are their own- the coach often sits in the stands for higher-level games. For many crossover athletes, the appeal is that they get to do more than “block that guy”. Everyone plays offense and defense, makes tackles and carries the ball.

How has the team and sport grown locally – and how have you promoted it to those in Pittsburgh?

The team has grown over the years with the introduction of our facility and the hard work of a group of volunteers that love the sport. The Harlequins made the transition from Division 2 to Division 1 in the mid 1990’s, followed by visits to national Championship Round of 8 and 16 in recent years. The sport has grown locally with the expansion of youth and high school programs in the area; trying to keep pace with the huge growth boom of the sport in those age groups nationwide.

In addition, with rugby being reinstated as an Olympic sport in 2012 (the USA was the last team to win a gold medal in the sport) High school and college players right now are the players that will be competing for gold in 2016. Couple that with the growing number of varsity college programs and scholarships out there, this is a good opportunity for athletes to be a big fish in a little pond.

Does having such a diverse and strong ethnic diversity in Pittsburgh help you in that some might be more aware of the sport?

The diversity in Pittsburgh is definitely one of the things that makes the city great- there are a great many opportunities to watch a wide variety of sports in the city beyond the big three; at our facility alone you can watch top level soccer, hurling, lacrosse, Gaelic football and, of course, rugby. There is a huge support base out there for these “underground” sports, and the many ex-patriots in town are definitely a big part of that- we often call them “funny-talkers”, which coming from a Pittsburgher, is fairly ironic.

Any last thoughts for readers?

The Harlequins made our first appearance at a Seven’s National Championship this year, which set the groundwork for a successful Fall Season. That team was made up entirely of local men; competing against all-star teams importing top-level players from around the world. We are always looking for experienced players, as well as athletes looking to compete in a new sport at the highest level. Rugby is fast and athletic, and it can quickly become a passion. We are home almost every weekend in October, and games are very family friendly.