Top Players in each division

[whodere]

Lets Here the top 5-10 players in each division

Mason Dixon
Not sure?

Northeast
Sulli
Keating
Pinhero

St Louis
Thompson
hewkin
ganz?

Colorado
yoder and yings comprise this divsion

canada?
no one

[TOURLU85]

for gateway you forgot a few...big ones too

beilsten
costanza
messina
bruce
fudge
marchand
barnette

[ISFN]

As far as the gateway goes. There are alot of big names but also names that maybe some outside of the State may not know of and I think will shine come game time. Its not always how many people know your last name its how you play. I personally could careless if people know my last name, I know alot of kids that travel all over for nationals and such and who aren't that great but just travel and I'm sure alot of you know their names but doesn't mean their any good just like to travel and find teams to play on.

[ISFN]

Some underrated Gateway Division Players, may not have BIG last names but defintily have alot of talent.

Of course these aren't the best players on each teams I know this and You guys know this, these are just players who I think you may not know about and who deserve credit and who I think will make an impact in the league, along with thoes "superstar last names" you listed.


Soutside Snipers- Jim Jost, Joe Altnether, and Zach Reis

Midwest Tornados-Tim O'Leary and goalie Jake Menzael

St. Louis Pythons- The St. Charles C.C. Guys: Blake Propp, Gus Maloney and Andy Meade,and goalie Steve Reed.

[alex]

Alright, this would be my top 5 skaters from each division. I just used the rosters posted on PIHA's website (except Colorado Springs Thunder, I picked 3 of their players assuming they're returning from last year's team)
I know most of the players in the league but I'm sure I overlooked a few...


Northeast
Ron Tracy
Sean Sullivan
Jimmy Vivona
John Pinheiro
Jon Mosensen

Mason Dixon
Mike Ciolli
Ziggy Marszalek
Jami Yoder
Steve Yingling
Jay Mazer

Gateway
Dan Costanza
JP Beilstein
Greg Thompson
Brandon Barnette
Travis Fudge

Rocky Mountain
CJ Yoder
Brian Yingling
Shayne Carrol
Brad Ellis
Ryan Bernot

[Troho9]

Why don't we let guys actually play in a few games before anointing them the "best player". It's too easy to just pick the big names. In my opinion there are so many good players in this league that maybe we should wait and see who carries their teams over the course of a few games.

[robinshockey25]

Absolutely, isn't the idea to see who the best team is anyway? No one or two players is going to make or break a team in this league.

[TheSnake22]

lotta goalies on those lists...

its impossible to make a list like this at any point in the season, there are too many good players, and the list of the next left out will be just as good as the first 5...

[growl89]

A good topic maybe would be most under-rated players in the league?

[alex]

First, yes we realize that it's the best team that matters. So many people get upset when others try naming the best players. I know its the team that matters, but individuals make up teams and there's no harm in arguing over who the most talented individuals are. And going beyond that, this league isn't full of Mike Ciolli's, so it's not so wrong to say a guy like that is going to hugely improve a team.

Second, I think the whole argument a lot of people make on here about players needing experience in this league before we can call them among the best is absolutely ridiculous. Because Mike Ciolli or Ziggy Marszalek haven't played a game in PIHA yet means nothing whatsoever. They've been winning international titles and NARCh and TORHS Pro championships for years. We're not talking about some player coming over from the European Elite leagues to play in the NHL here. It's essentially the other way around.
And you don't even have to just talk about the greats like Ciolli and Ziggy. Everyone says let's not annoint any of these rookies just yet, but was last season not the rookie season of both Ryan Clemens and Sean Sullivan? I'm believe it was and they were Regular Season MVP and League Scoring Champion respectively while leading their teams to the Finals. Both those kids were dominating this league last year and they were still playing Midget hockey. This league isn't at a point yet, talent-wise, where it can deny the huge impact that new players, even very young ones, are going to have.

[Troho9]

I think you are missing the point. At the start of the season you can name all the best players from each team and compile a list and than from there narrow it down to the top 10 in the league. But using your point was Clemmens and Sully on that list last year? I dont think so. So let's give it a few games for all of the teams and players to get into the swing of the season. No ones saying this isn't a great topic, cause it is. But using the NHL as an example do you remember the start Afinogenov got out to this season? What has he done in the past month?

[GROWL]

Sean Sullivan was not a 'rookie' last season, he played the year before as well. Otherwsie you are completely correct. I our case... Once Mosenson returns from his injury, I suspect he will be an immediete impact player in the league, much like Mike Keating was last year. However I wouldn't classify anyone as 'the best in the league', before they have played a single game in it.

[alex]

I think you are missing the point. At the start of the season you can name all the best players from each team and compile a list and than from there narrow it down to the top 10 in the league. But using your point was Clemmens and Sully on that list last year? I dont think so. So let's give it a few games for all of the teams and players to get into the swing of the season. No ones saying this isn't a great topic, cause it is. But using the NHL as an example do you remember the start Afinogenov got out to this season? What has he done in the past month?

Being a west-coaster, I didn't know much of anything about PIHA last year, but I think if I had I would have placed Sullivan near the top of the league. Not sure about Clemens. But then again, I didn't follow the league until this year so I shouldn't say.

As far as the NHL, I'm strictly roller only kind of guy, haha. So, I have no idea.

[alex]

I think you are missing the point. At the start of the season you can name all the best players from each team and compile a list and than from there narrow it down to the top 10 in the league. But using your point was Clemmens and Sully on that list last year? I dont think so. So let's give it a few games for all of the teams and players to get into the swing of the season. No ones saying this isn't a great topic, cause it is. But using the NHL as an example do you remember the start Afinogenov got out to this season? What has he done in the past month?

I backtracked a bit and reread, so I guess there's a few more things I have to say..

If you're saying Clemens and Sullivan would not have been on the list prior to last season as premier players well then I think that further proves the point. Doubting Clemens and Sullivan's abilities to dominate the league because they were young and/or hadn't played proved to be a false prediction right? Just as predicting young, PIHA-inexperienced players cannot dominate the league this year is not a good prediction to make.


Then, on the Afinogenov point, he is Russian if my memory from my days of following the NHL years ago serves me right. He came over from Russia and being a top player in their league and you're saying he hasn't done anything in the NHL the past month and whatnot. But that's the inverse of the point I was trying to make.
In the analogy I was trying to make, PIHA equates to the European Elite leagues, NARCh/TORHS Pro is the NHL. And it doesn't make sense for people to doubt that those who are greats in NARCh/TORHS Pro shouldn't be assumed to be amongst the best in PIHA even if they haven't played there yet. It's like saying a great player in the NHL shouldn't be assumed to be amongst the best in a Euro elite league because he hasn't played there before.

[Troho9]

I am all confussed now.


(Waving white flag from a fox hole)