St Joseph's Prep Hawks

Many of the 'Concerned Citizens' of Gotham City have been out and about early this season and the bat phone is starting to ring for those of us interested in the happenins of Pa Hockey. While the Villans continues to bleed Western Pennsylvania dry of the very possible dollar through fees, fines and fr----, PA Hockey continues to provide service to the hockey community. Their was really some serious consideration given to changing our theme to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but Sleepy retired from the scene and we couldn't narrow down who would play the part of Dopey ? So Batman and his crew of Crime Fighters, the Bat Computer and now the Gotham City News [Dick Grayson a/k/a Robin is now editor] will continue to make their prescence felt on the Western Pa Hockey front. Absent from Gotham last season were the editorials we all enjoy to keep the people given the Mushroom treatment by the Villans [which is a majority] abreast of what really happens behind the scenes, which can be characterized best as a whole lot of nothing. Save the Pens chants have died, the Open Division is more of a bigger disaster, teams and programs falling by the wayside continues, hockey development is at an all-time low in Western Pa [rivaling the early 1980's] and oh yes by the way, the head Villan is getting another raise to take the package closer to $ 100,000 a year ? And in April, the Villans will be poised to rig another election, so expect them all to be out gladhanding you and have big smiles on their faces, because keeping control of the million dollar a year paper tiger is what they are all about ! There is hope on the horizon.........the Penguins have a new re-birth under a very solid General Manager in Ray Shero, who looks to be building a contender around Crosby, Malkin and company, but it will only work if the team has ownership committed to staying in Pittsburgh and building a new arena, which is in the hands of the politicians, which is a crapshoot at best for the future of our professional hockey franchise nearing its 40th year in operation. If the Penguins stay.........hockey has a chance to right itself in Western Pa and there needs to be some new blood at the Amateur and High School level, who are willing to serve the hockey community and not trying to be politicians. Having said that, it will be important to see volunteerism begin a new spirit to overcome the demise set forth by a very self serving group, which now is doing its best to ruin the sport in this area and pay themselves a lot of money, with what could be done through 100 %Volunteers !! The Pa Hockey Foundation has started some excellent programs in the East Suburbs and they will continue to attract young people to the sport at the early ages in an attempt to try to rebuild long established hockey programs at Franklin Regional, Gateway, Plum, Penn Trafford, Penn Hills [who will fail to field a Varsity or ANY teams for the first time in 36 years !!!!] and other Eastern schools before it is too late ! Street Hockey, Dek Hockey, Learn to Skate, Learn to Play Hockey and two of Western Pa's two top Amateur Organizations and Ice Arenas have jumped in and joined hands in an effort to move forward. The ONLY way this will work is through the single most important factor, that has driven this sport for over 40 years in this area........people with the ability to Volunteer their time to make it happen. This will put a hault to the virtual nosedive that hockey is heading for in this geographic area. So as we start the 2006-2007 season, let me put one thought is front of the Concerned Citizens of Gotham, is it time for a new beginning or are we going to have the continued attitude of 'well my son is a senior and I would love to help, just let me know' or are their people out their who really care about this sport and its plight. If you're interested, we meet the first Wednesday of every month..........and if not thanks for your help !