More Minor Hockey today…….
We told you yesterday about the Highlanders-Oakville Minor Midget game set for tomorrow afternoon at Chesley.
Owen Sound has a bunch of games on Sunday afternoon that I was invited to, but it conflicted with the annual SMHLPA Christmas Party and if there’s one Christmas function you don’t want to miss, it’s that one.
We’re also heading to the traditional Christmas Holiday tournament season, so it’s a terrific time of the year for Minor Hockey and for those who participate on the ice and off……
However, I was advised of a proposal on the horizon that apparently will be implemented at the start of next season, granting free agency for Midget Hockey players.
Free agency ?!
The gist of the initiative, as it was described to me, is to eliminate residency rules and allow Midget players to play where they wish, essentially creating dream teams, stacked teams, all province teams; call it what you will.
Now in fairness, there’s an element of this has long been in effect.
Years ago, I noted there were a number of defenceman in the Ontario Hockey League who had graduated from the Richmond Hill Stars.
However, when I looked at the hometowns for the kids in question, one was from Orleans, another from Powassan, neither of which is in the Richmond Hill area, it struck me as strange.
The underlying worry in certain circles is that if it starts with a Midget Pilot Project, how long before it’s a Minor Midget, or Bantam or Peewee or….well you get where I’m going with this.
Christmas time should be a great time for Minor Hockey experiences, but there’s a cloud on the horizon that has some organizers in our region very uptight.
I’m Fred Wallace