Pittsburgh Hornets Compete In Prestigious MWEHL Showcase

This weekend, the Pittsburgh Hornets will compete in the prestigious Midwest Elite AAA Hockey League Annual Showcase tournament. This tournament will feature the top teams and players in the country and will be heavily scouted by major junior and Division 1 college hockey teams. The Pittsburgh Hornets have been longstanding members of the league, a league which began from a most interesting start.

In 1999, a core group of amateur hockey organizations broke away from the now defunct Michigan National Hockey League (MNHL) to form the Midwest Elite Hockey League. Under the guidance of then president and current Belle Tire Hockey Director John Kay, these members, in addition to those that were added in time, now make up the premier AAA Tier I developmental association in the United States. Currently, close to 100 clubs represent the MWEHL by competing in both boys and girls divisions.

Teams in the boys’ circuit range from Mite to Midget Major; the latter consisting of Belle Tire, Capital Centre Pride, Chicago Young Americans, Cleveland Barons, Compuware, Honeybaked, Kewadin Soo, Little Caesars, Marquette Electricians, Pittsburgh Hornets, Team Illinois and Victory Honda.

Throughout the years, several players began their ascent to the National Hockey League by honing their skills with MWEHL organizations. Some familiar names include: Ryan Malone (Penguins) and R.J Umberger (Philadelphia) , both alumni from the Pittsburgh Hornets, Dallas Stars center and Michigan native Mike Modano; Al Iafrate; Pat Peake; Jimmy Carson; and Derian Hatcher, a former Detroit Red Wing and Motor City Mechanic (United Hockey League) defenseman who signed a contract in the summer of 2005 to play with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Pittsburgh Hornets AAA Hockey Association is one of the top amateur hockey associations in the country and, based upon our long standing track record to date, we believe clearly the top amateur hockey association in Western Pennsylvania for helping young hockey players realize their goals and dreams at the junior, Division 1 and even the Pro levels. You can check out the success of our alumni by going to/clicking on the following link. To learn more about our great organization click through to our association webpage at this link as well.

As proud members of the MWEHL, we believe we owe a great deal of our success to the MWEHL and our fellow league members as together we all strive to maintain the strategic vision of the MWEHL, to :

1. Provide best-in-class coaching, training facilities, and programs; and
2. Build relationships with USA Hockey, MAHA, Junior Leagues, Colleges/Universities, and the business community; and
3. Instill the core values of Achievement, Competitiveness, Citizenship, Enthusiasm, Scholarship, and Sportsmanship (ACCESS) in each member of the Association

Best wishes and good luck to everyone competing in the prestigious MWEHL AAA Showcase, and let the games begin !!