Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire ” proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community……
The Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors Meeting last week wasn’t overly illuminating.
According to the Owen Sound Attack Governor Peter MacDermid, the session lasted about 20 minutes but really didn’t offer anything specific in terms of Return To Play dates and protocols.
Understandably, the OHL in tandem with the government and provincial health agencies continue to work together see the league return to action.
On the same day as the Board of Governors session, Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod stated she was ” optimistic ” a Return To Play plan would be in place and formally announced by the end of the month.
Minister MacLeod also announced the provincial government would provide in excess of $ 2 million to be divided among the 17 Ontario based OHL clubs and directed to their education packages.
Two things;
1) Checking the calendar, the end of this month is March, which gives precious little wiggle room for a reported condensed season of 20 games per club. Furthermore, with no announced details out of the Board of Governors meeting one wonders will the plan be universally accepted, or will the plan be bulldozed through ?
And 2) The Education money will be well received as those packages represent a significant expense to the operation of every OHL club. But again, I wonder, what of Erie, Flint & Saginaw ? And what of the Ontario bred kids who play for those American based OHL entries ? Is it ” tough luck “, or do those teams have to approach the government bodies in Michigan and Pennsylvania for assistance ?
For Pete’s Auto Body I’m Fred Wallace