Cap City families plans for 2023?

[Guest]

The news has made the rounds that BB is axing Cap City as a travel brand next year.  They are trying to push their current travel players to York and PBK.  The plan is to keep the Vipers as a house/feeder organization.

So where are going?  PBK is supposedly trying to focus on AAA.m, but I assume they will still have some tier 2.  York may be a long way for some players.  The only other AHF option is Lancaster.  Dvhl options are Central Penn and Pottstown if they keep playing from the Bodyzone.  That’s it unless there’s a reformation of the Hershey Jr Bears.

[Guest]

The news has made the rounds that BB is axing Cap City as a travel brand next year.  They are trying to push their current travel players to York and PBK.  The plan is to keep the Vipers as a house/feeder organization.

So where are going?  PBK is supposedly trying to focus on AAA.m, but I assume they will still have some tier 2.  York may be a long way for some players.  The only other AHF option is Lancaster.  Dvhl options are Central Penn and Pottstown if they keep playing from the Bodyzone.  That’s it unless there’s a reformation of the Hershey Jr Bears.

I wouldn't say PBK is focusing on Tier 1, it is the Central PA option for T1, but PBK still offers a very strong Tier 2 program.  This season, PBK rostered 14 tier 2 teams and 8 tier 1 teams and would expect similar numbers next season.  With three pads at KLA and then the option to also practice at Twin Ponds, plenty of ice time available.

[Guest]

will Hershey come back?  I still don't understand the demise of that organization if someone can give me some background. 

[Guest]

For Hershey it's pretty simple, they don't have a rink to call home. BB owns TPE and Palmyra while operating York.

[Guest]

For Hershey it's pretty simple, they don't have a rink to call home. BB owns TPE and Palmyra while operating York.

I agree and would add that parents/players that were looking for more ice time to develop players were coming to PBK due to a much stronger commitment to Power Skating and a lot more options for skills/skating sessions at KLA to supplement team practices. 

Stronger players the last few years that had aspirations to play Tier 1 were shifting to PBK around PeeWee/Bantam age as well which was slowly eroding HJB's numbers.  Once AHF/Black Bear appeared, you saw the decline of HJB accelerate quickly in the last 12 months.

Will be interesting to see what happens as Black Bear prices are announced and I don't think the larger commitment to hockey that PBK requires is a fit for all families... some want travel hockey but are okay with just two team practices a week. 

It comes down to what is best for each family's situation and expectation.

[Guest]

For Hershey it's pretty simple, they don't have a rink to call home. BB owns TPE and Palmyra while operating York.

Hershey's downfall was internal with misappropriated fund issues. They wouldn't only need a rink to play out of they would need an entirely new board to rebuild the trust they self collapsed.

[Guest]

It would be hard to restart the Bears because

1. they would have to find ice to play on.  BB may not sell them ice time and the previous Bears families weren’t happy playing out of the old arena.

2. It would be hard to keep all the players/families together in the time people have to set something like that up.

I wonder why BB made this decision and if it’s coming for other BB facilities close to one another ie Grundy and Blazers.

[Guest]

Once BB bought KLA the hockey director of PBK convinced BB to put in charge of TPE too so he monopolized area and prevented Vipers from fielding any travel teams in an attempt to force players to PBK. PBK doesnt face any competition from Hershey since hemorrhaging players for years due to mismanagement. PBK hockey director now controls Palmyra, Hershey, and Harrisburg areas. Youth sports have come to this

[Guest]

Once BB bought KLA the hockey director of PBK convinced BB to put in charge of TPE too so he monopolized area and prevented Vipers from fielding any travel teams in an attempt to force players to PBK. PBK doesnt face any competition from Hershey since hemorrhaging players for years due to mismanagement. PBK hockey director now controls Palmyra, Hershey, and Harrisburg areas. Youth sports have come to this

Sorry, but your information is wrong.  Black Bear shut down the Vipers and that was their call, not PBK's hockey director.  After Black Bear acquired PBK, they told the Hockey Director his new role was over seeing all Black Bear clubs in Central PA.

Its a business folks, no longer non-profit.... get used to it.

[Guest]

From what I was told is that PBK will be playing and using both Klick Lewis and Twin Ponds. Klick Lewis will be used for Tier1, AA and high A while Twin Ponds will be low A, B and in house all under the PBK name.