How did it start?
Pirate hockey was formed in the fall of 2006 by Scott Taylor (Tayls) and John Rapiach (Rap). Both played youth hockey in the Omaha Metropolitan Amateur Hockey League since the age of 6 years old. John and Scott bring 30 plus years of youth hockey experience to the program. Both were coached in high school by Omaha legend Eddy Bruneteau, playing 3 years with the then Omaha Stars High School B travel team. The experience they had while playing travel hockey provided the platform for the vision of Pirate Hockey.
John and Scott joined forces with Jeff Brown or Brownie as he is known in the hockey community. Jeff meshed with John and Scott’s vision and philosophies for the program, and a working relationship and friendship was formed. Jeff brings excellent people skills and management abilities to the vision of Pirate Hockey and he is also an excellent liaison between the MCHL skills program and all levels of league play in the MCHL. The trio of Tayls, Rap and Brownie are committed to making Pirate Hockey the elite select travel hockey program in the region.
Returning to adult hockey required an adjustment period for John and Scott. Adapting to non-contact hockey and playing with adults that lacked formal hockey experience and fundamentals proved a challenge. Recognizing that the best way to improve skills and develop as a team was to repetitively play with the same core of players, they set out to form a select program made up of skilled players with hockey experience, or players they felt had great potential to become good hockey players.
Pirate hockey is not affiliated with any leagues. Pirates have players from both the MCHL & the BPHL and many Pirates do not play league hockey at all. Pirate hockey exists to take the travel experience to the next level. Our teams practice together weekly in an effort to improve and compete at the very highest levels of our respective tournament divisions. Pirates try to compete in 2-3 tournaments a year.
What skill level are the Pirates?
Pirate Hockey currently has 4 levels of play and player skill levels are determined by past hockey experience, on ice evaluations at weekly skates, as well as scouting reports from pirates within the local leagues.
The flagship team and highest skill level of Pirate is the black team. This team is made up of the most skilled and experienced players within the organization. The next level is white. Pirate white competes with black on a weekly basis and both teams combine players often. Pirate white is made up of players that may lack formal hockey experience or that have hockey experience but have lost a step or two with age. Often guys will skate with both teams depending on the number of players on the black/white roster.
Pirate Hockey has 2 developmental teams, silver and orange. These teams strive to become the best players they can be and possibly join the higher skilled players in time. These teams will compete in the intermediate and novice levels of travel tournaments. Silver and orange skate together weekly, and combine players often.
Do they just play tournaments?
Each of the teams skates weekly year round in preparation for tournaments as well as to work together as a team and improve their hockey skills.
Can anyone become a Pirate?
Most of our teams currently have a waiting list but if you would be interested in taking your hockey talents and travel experience to the next level, click here and we'll get you more information.