Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/133453
By Harry Thompson Burgh "Every program we have here, our No. 1 priority is making sure the kids have fun." Youth Hockey — Bob Arturo, Island Sports Center Hockey Director a decade ago. The Penguins were struggling in an aging building and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. And then, the franchise and the hockey community caught lightning in a bottle when Crosby came to town, and the rest, as they say, is hockey history. Now a perennial NHL powerhouse, the Penguins are leading the resurgence in the area that includes supporting hockey at all levels. "The Penguins are all about growing hockey, and I commend them for their dedication to the game at all levels. It's all part of their footprint," says Schooley, the head coach of Robert Morris University's Div. I hockey program. "It's just really taken off to the point where it's taking away from the Steelers a little bit. It's becoming a hockey town instead of a football town." Ray Shero is not only the general manager of the Penguins, he is also a devoted hockey dad. His oldest son, Christopher, represented the host squad at the 2013 T oyotaUSA Hockey Tier I National Championships, while his youngest son, Kyle, was competing with the Pittsburgh Predators in Charlotte, N.C., in the Tier II 14 & Under division. With all that's happening with the Penguins in the midst of another Stanley Cup run as well as Nationals coming to the Island Sports Center for the second time in four years, the Frozen Four in town a week Little Penguins later, and the All-American Prospects Game heading here in September, it's been a great time to be involved with the game at the local level. "The support from the fans and the community has been outstanding. It says a lot about the people here, how passionate they are about the game of hockey and how well it's grown here," says Shero, who credits his bosses for taking a grass-roots approach to growing their fan base. "It starts with our ownership who are really committed to youth hockey here … not just financially but through other means as well. Everyone is very passionate about youth hockey here, building it, maintaining it, cultivating it and making it the best that it can be. I think that Pittsburgh is well on its way to doing that." It only stands to reason as the ranks of players continue to rise, so does the quality. The number of players from around western Pennsylvania who are playing in Junior and collegiate programs continues to grow, as does the number of local kids who have made it to the NHL. Pittsburgh natives Ryan Malone and R.J. Umberger set the standard and have since been followed by young guns J.T. Miller, Brandon Saad and Christian Hanson. With the continued boom in youth hockey programs in the area, the number of local players competing at the top levels of the game is likely to increase in the foreseeable future. "I've seen a lot when it comes to the growth of hockey in the area, and I think it's safe to say that I've been the beneficiary of the growth simply because more and more players leads to better players," says Chris Stern, who recently wrapped up his 24th season of coaching in the area. "We've had well over 100 Div. I players come through our organization. The quality of athlete and also the depth, it's unbelievable how it's taken off. "I feel pretty fortunate to be here in this unique time because of all those things. I'm glad to be along for the ride." N USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM June/July. 2013 15