International Visitors to the Blog-Take Note !!

First off, we want to thank everyone interested in Pittsburgh Hornet AAA Hockey for taking the time to check out our new and exciting blog webpage. We get lots of hits everyday on our website from all across North America. Amazingly, we also seem to get lots of hits from people living throughout the rest of the world as well, demonstrating what an international game this sport of hockey truly is today.

We have had Hornet Hockey fans checking out our website from countries such as England, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, Israel, Australia and even some islands that probably don’t even have ice rinks, much less ice. We have even received some hits from someone located at the North Pole in Alaska.!

In order to serve our international fans better, we would like to find out who some of you are, what your connection to Pittsburgh Hornet AAA Hockey is, and what other information regarding the team you would like to see on our website. So for anyone living outside of the United States, please drop us an email at jimc1128@aol.com and lets us know what country you are from and what other information we can provide to make your Pittsburgh Hornet AAA Hockey web experience am enjoyable one. Thanks again for your continued support and start sending those emails!

Hornet U-16's win OT thriller in tournament championship

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Hornet U-16 team which defeated the Colorado Outlaws 3-2 in the championship of the RMU Island Sports Invitational Tournament. Kurt Washnock took a feed from John Houston and scored the game winner with 8.2 seconds left in the first overtime.

The Hornets reached the Championship game with a heart stopping 3-2 win over the Long Island Royals.

It's Official ! - Shaun Williams Heads to Union College !

The Chicago Steel make it official with the following announcement as Hornet alumni goaltender Shaun Williams chooses Union College for his D-1 career. Way to go Shaun!


Bensenville, Illinois - The Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League would like to announce the verbal commitment of goaltender Shaun Williams to Union College. Williams will joining the Dutchmen for the 2006-2007 season.

Shaun, a native of Erie, Pa, becomes the fourth Steel player to make his collegiate commitment this season, fifty-sixth in franchise history. The 5 11”, 185-pound netminder is in his first season in the USHL. Prior to joining the Steel, Williams played for the Springfield Spirit of the NAHL. Currently, Williams sports a 3.50 goals against average and a save percentage of .899 (10th in the league). Shaun has appeared in 17 of the Steel’s 19 games and sees on average 30 shots per game.

"Shaun has been outstanding for us this season,” remarks Steel Head Coach/General Manger Chris Imes. “He has worked hard to get where he is today. He is technically sound and sees the play before it happens. Several schools were looking at him, but in the end, Unions campus and facilities won out." Best of luck to Shaun as he continues his hockey career.

Hornets playing Juniors: Alumni update November 30, 2005

In the USHL, Chris Clackson has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 22 games with the Chicago Steel, while goalie Shaun Williams has played in 20 games with a 3.68 GAA and a .894 Save % for the Steel. At Sioux City, Team Captain, Christiaan Minella has five goals and nine points for the Musketeers. Nick Tabisz has 4 goals for the Green Bay Gamblers who have been paced by Segio Somma with 7 goals and 9 Assists.

In the NAHL, Defenseman Dennis Urban has three goals and 10 assists for 13 points with the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, while forward Matt Quigley has three goals and three assists despite a shoulder injury; Bryce Merriam is 3-4-0 in goal, with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage for the Phantoms. Cleveland has signed former hornet goalie Phil Tetzlaff.

Defenseman Mike Levendusky has a goal and five assists for Texarkana; and forward CJ Severyn has a goal and six assists for the US National Developmental Team. ...

Dane Hetland is having a great rookie season for the EJHL Baystate Breakers. He leads the team with 12 goals and nine assists, for 21 points. Team Captain Chris Brown has five assists, and Alec Wright has eight assists for Baystate. Nick DeCroo has eight goals and 17 points for the Boston Junior Bruins, while Mark Persic had a goal for the Boston Harbor Wolves before having shoulder surgery. ...

Q and A with Hornet Alumni R.J. Umberger

Hornet alumni forward R. J. Umberger recently sat down with NHL Correspondant Russ Cohen and gave an exclusive interview about his journey to budding NHL stardom. R.J. Umberger is a 23-year-old forward with an interesting entry into the world of professional hockey
A power forward, Umberger was a standout at Ohio State University, a member of Team USA at the 2001 World Junior Championships, and was drafted 16th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2001 Entry Draft. Umberger and the Canucks never could agree on a contract. After a short stint with the New York Rangers, he found a home in Philadelphia where he set the rookie points record (65) for the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms during their 2005 Calder Cup Championship season. NHL.com caught up with this budding Flyers star to talk about his hockey career and a whole lot more. Check out this fascinating interview of Hornet Alumni R.J. Umberger at http://www.nhl.com/features/system/index.html

Team Illinois wins Thanksgiving Tournament

TI hung on by a thread to beat Wisconsin 2-1 in overtime and triumphed 3-2 over the Chicago Young Americans in the championship game yesterday to win the TI Thanksgiving Tournament. They are still undefeated! What an amazing run they are having this year.