Pittsburgh Hornets

Four former members of the Pittsbugh Hornets have been named to the 22 man  roster for the 2012 World Junior Championship to be held in Alberta, Canada.  The first is Stephen Johns currently playing for the University of Notre Dame.  Second is Brandon Saad who is playing for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL and started the season playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.  Third is the 2011 first round pick of the New York Rangers JT Miller who is with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL.  The fourth is goaltender John Gibson a member of the Kitchener Rangers, who was named to the team before camp.

The tournament will begin on Monday December 26th when  Team USA faces off against Denmark at 6:00pm.  All of the games will be shown on NHL Network.  Congratulations to all and for more information on the team and tournament, including the broadcast schedule go to www.USAHockey.com.   

The Pittsburgh Hornets are pleased to announce that they will be hosting the 2013 USA Hockey National Championships for the Tier I U14, U16 and U18 divisions.  Once again Robert Morris Island Sports Center will be the host facility.  We look forward to making this a special event for the Hornet's and all the participating teams.

In what can only be described as a historical whirlwind over the last month, Brendan Saad has made the Chicago Blackhawks as an 18 year old.  Brandon's accomplishment brings a number of rare feats. 

He will be by far the youngest Western Pennsylvania player to make the NHL.  Along with Ryan O'Riley of the Colorado Avalanche in 2009, he becomes only the 2nd non-first round pick to make an NHL team as an 18 year old in the last few decades.  He is the first American born non first round pick to make an NHL roster at 18.  He joins a short list of Americans who have made NHL teams at 18 along with Cam Fowler, Patrick Kane, Bobby Carpenter, Phil Housley, Ed Olczyk, Tim Connely, and Tom Barrasso.  

The Blackhawks face the Dallas Stars on Friday at 8:30pm.  Good luck Brandon

A very competitive weekend of hockey was enjoyed by all, as the New Jersey Rockets, Team Maryland and Pittsburgh Hornets ’99 PeeWee Major teams participated in the Inaugural Patriots Challenge Hockey Tournament.  The event was hosted by the Hornets at the RMU Island Sports Center benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project.    All the players, families and fans will remember the true meaning of the weekend, as the new hockey season begins – The Heroes and Victims of September 11, 2001 and all the sacrifices that our Armed Forces have made to protect our Liberty and Freedom.

The teams competed for the Patriots Challenge Cup, donated by the Mascali family of the New Jersey Rockets, in honor of all the heroes of September 11^th.  The Rockets Jack Mascali, Uncle Joe Mascali, was a New York fireman, Rescue 5 Staten Island, N.Y., that was killed that day while saving people at the World Trade Center.

The round-robin portion of the weekend ended with each team having one win & one loss.  The New Jersey Rockets defeated Team Maryland to advance to the championship game against Pittsburgh. The Hornets defeated the Rockets in the championship game to capture the Patriots Challenge Cup, avenging an earlier loss to New Jersey in the first game of the weekend.  Family, friends and fans were treated to very competitive, high energy games throughout the weekend.

As the National Hockey League along with its member clubs New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals learned about the weekend, they all generously donated great hockey memorabilia items including autographed Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Zac Parise jerseys, signed pucks and sticks along with other items highlighted by the use of a Luxury Suite for a New Jersey Devils game during the upcoming season for an auction to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.  With proceeds from the auction and donations, the weekend raised over

$ 12,000 for the WWP.   Plans are already underway to expand next year’s Patriots Challenge, which will be held in New Jersey at the Prudential Center, home of the New Jersey Devils.

The weekend was much more than great hockey – each of the teams also participated in a community service project.  The Hornets and Rockets each prepared care packages for members of the United States Armed Forces, while Team Maryland’s project supported the Fisher House organization, whose purpose is to help military families in need of aid.  The players want to express their appreciation and gratitude to the soldiers for their courageous service and sacrifice.  The positive message that the players learned during the Patriots Challenge is that patriotism, heroism and sacrifice, are the true enduring legacies of September 11^th.

All proceeds from the weekend will go to the Wounded Warrior Project.  The WWP exists to honor and empower wounded warriors who incurred service-connected injuries on or after September 11, 2001. 

The tragic events of September 11^th are often the reason warriors say they felt a sense of duty to volunteer for the military.  These individuals chose to defend our country, which is why we honor them.

 To donate to the Wounded Warrior Project visit the Patriots Challenge WWP Page click on the following link:   http://bit.ly/qmHoF0

The Pittsburgh Hornets would like to thank all of the participants in their first annual golf outing.  Below you will find pictures from the outing.  Thanks again for all your help in raising money for our player emergency fund.

Following being selected with the 15th overall pick in the NHL Draft JT MIller has made it official by signing an entry level contract with the New York Rangers.  Click on the link below to read the full press release.

Former Hornet JT Miller was selected in the first round 15th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2011 NHL Draft.  The selection broke new ground on a number of different fronts.  Miller became the first American trained player selected in the draft.  The pick also made Miller the highest selected player in history from Western Pennsylvania.  Congratulations to JT and good luck on a long career in the NHL.

Day Two of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft saw three more Hornets quickly selected.  John Gibson was the first to go at 39th overall to the Anaheim Ducks.  John was the second goalie selected.  Brandon Saad was then selected 43rd by the Chicago Blackhawks.  Brandon will join his former NTDP and Hornet teammate Stephen Johns in Chicago.   The third Hornet taken was Vince Trocheck who was selected 64th overall by the Florida Panthers.  Congratulations to all the players selected and good luck in the NHL.  

Five former Pittsburgh Hornets have been named as participants in the USA Hockey World Junior Team evaluation camp this August in Lake Placid, NY.  Brandon Saad, who plays for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.    Brandon's teammate with the Saginaw Spirit Vince Trochek was also named to the camp invite list.  Forward JT MIller who just completed two years with the NTDP and will be playing at the University of North Dakota next fall.  The final player is defenseman Stephen Johns, who will be a sophomore at Notre Dame this fall.

The goaltenders participating in the camp have now been named and former Hornet John Gibson was chosen.  John is currently the number one ranked North American goaltender for the NHL Draft and will be attending Michigan in the fall.

 You can find the camp roster and follow the action in August at www.usahockey.com by clicking on the logo to the left.  Good Luck.

Following Matt Miller and Luke Stork being selected in the USHL Futures Draft, today Danny Kucerovy and Shane Shiring were selected in  the leagues Main Draft.  Danny Kucerovy, a member of the U16 team, was selected with the first pick in the 3rd round 31st overall by the Chicago Steel.  Shane Shiring, from the Hornets U18 team,  was chosen in the 15th round by the Youngstown Phantoms.  Congratulations Danny and Shane and good luck.

The USNTDP captured its 3rd consecutive IIHF World U18 championship with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against Sweden. Along with being the 3rd gold in a row for Team USA it was the second consecutive year that multiple former Hornets were on the team.  Following Brandon Saad and Stephen Johns winning the gold in 2010 John Gibson, JT Miller and Barret Kaib all played major roles in the US victory.

JT Miller recorded 13 points in the tournament as the leading scorer for the US squad and John Gibson was named the tournaments best goalie while going undefeated.  Congratulations to our 3 alumni and the rest of Team USA.

The Pittsburgh Hornets are proud to announce that all teams from Squirt Major to U18 will play in the Tier I Elite League for the upcoming season.  The Hornets would like to thank the Tier I Elite League Board of Governor's for unanimously voting the Hornets in at all ages.  We look forward to this new era of competition.

The Pittsburgh Hornets are proud to announce that two members of the U16 team were selected in the USHL Futures Draft.  Matt Miller was selected in the 2nd round 24th overall by the Des Moines Buccaneer's.  Shortly after that Luke Stork was selected in the 3rd round 33rd overall by the Youngstown Phantom's.  Congratulations Luke and Matt

The U16 Hornets lost to Honeybaked in the National Semi-final game 4-2 in a well played battle against a strong team thus ending a very successful year.  The Hornets were undefeated in the prelimanary round knocking off the LA Selects 4-3,  the Mid Fairfield Blues 4-1, and  TPH Thunder 4-0.  The Hornets went into overtime, but conquered the North Jersey Avalanche 6-5 in the Quarterfinals. 

Congratulations to the U16 Hornets and Head Coach Jeff Potter, Assistant Coach Joe Tuset and Assistant Coach Rico Day for an outstanding season!

(Of Note - Honeybaked was the eventual Champion of the U16 USA Hockey National Tournament.) 

 

The Pittsburgh Hornets are honored to accept a generous sponsorship for the 2011-2012 hockey season from the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins to assist in the continuing development of youth hockey at the highest level in the Pittsburgh area.  The Pittsburgh Hornets would like to express a sincere "thank you" to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and we look  forward to our continued relationship together, as we move forward with our mission of developing hockey players on and off the ice.   We are grateful and appreciative to Mario Lemieux, David Morehouse, Rich Hixon, and Max Malone for their dedication to the hockey community.

The Pittsburgh Hornets U16 team clinched the Tier I Elite League Eastern Division title last Saturday night with a 5-0 shutout of the Cleveland Barons.  The teams current record in league play is 23-10-2 with one game remaining against the Buffalo Regals.  Congratulations and good luck the rest of the season and in Districts.

Former Pittsburgh Hornet, and current Boston College Eagle, Patrick Wey has been named to the US World Junior Championship Roster.  Wey becomes the first Hornet since Dylan Reese in 2004 and ond only the fourth Hornet ever, RJ Umberger and Dwight Labrosse being the other two, to be named to the World Junior Team.

The teams first game will be vs Finland Sunday December 26th at 7:30pm.  All of the Team USA games can be seen on NHL Network.  For more information about the tournament in Buffalo, including the game schedule visit www.USAHockey.com  Congratulations and good luck Patrick.

Update: Wey and Team USA captured the Bronze Medal with a 4-2 win against Sweden.

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Hornets U18 team for winning the Little Caeser's Motor City Cup with a 3-1 victory of Compuware.  The team went 6-0 on their way to the title defeating league rivals Honeybaked and the Chicago Fury along the way. 

Ryan Malone becomes the first Hornet alumni to win an Olympic medal as he brings home a Silver following Team USA's 3-2 heartbreaking loss in the Gold medal game yesterday.   It was a great tournament, and a great performance, for USA Hockey and we thank all of the American players for a superb effort.

We are a USA Hockey Tier I youth hockey organization dedicated to the development of our players to play at the highest levels of amateur hockey. Our seven teams -- Midget Major through Squirt Major -- play against the top competition in the United States and Canada. Our Midget Majors are members of the highly-regarded Midwest Elite Hockey League, and our other teams play aggressive independent schedules and participate in the top Tier I and AAA tournaments. We are proud of our teams' and players' accomplishments, both on and off the ice, and of our reputation as one of the top organizations in the country for the development of players.

• Dedicated to Tier I skill development
• Accountable to all stakeholders
• Committed to excellence on and off the ice