July 2011 Summer Ramblings

Did the hockey season just end or is it just starting?

LOTS to talk about.

The SMHA board recently voted to maintain bodychecking in our Bantam and Midget CC leagues for this season.  We'll reassess it after this season.  The sentiment around the table had nothing to do with old school thinking, or a neanderthal approach to what 'REAL HOCKEY' is.  It was all about kids bouncing between bodychecking and non-bodychecking year after year and the risks associated with not being prepared to get hit.

If you read between the lines, the major push behind OHF's bodychecking ban was all about recruitment.  Attracting visible minorities to hockey in the GTA has been a well documented struggle.  A lot of ethnic populations in TO believe hockey is too violent and won't sign their kids up.  By giving kids a non-bodychecking option in all age groups there is hope that more kids will come and play for the first time.  Not exactly an issue in Bantam and Midget in Sault Ste. Marie - in 2011 anyway.  But as our population evolves to be far more multi-cultural, we may be faced with the same challenges.  But right now, from a registration perspective, we're at capacity.

Soo Pee Wee's peewee C division will have no bodychecking in 2011/12.  It will be a great test to see if its popular or not.

On another note, we made a bold move in reducing the number of Midget AA teams from 4 top 3.  A couple of key reasons.  The calibre of the three teams will be stronger than with four - sorry for stating the obvious - but this will help our teams compete better in tournaments, in the NOHA's, and the OHF's.  In the past couple of years our calibre has slipped below what the rest of the province would consider AA calibre, and we owe it to the OHF to ice AA calibre teams.  A second key reason for strengthening the calibre of play is to create a better development environment for players who intend to eventually play at a higher level - whether it's the Northstars or the NOJHL.  Or in Matt D'Agostini's case (Root River Rangers 2002) the NHL.

Couldn't we just go with one AA team and be really strong?  Sure.  But they'd have no place to play and wouldn't develop as well playing only in tournaments.  Our multi-team Midget AA system works.  Just ask the Northstars, TBirds, Eagles and Beavers.

In 2011/12 our leagues will have fewer games during the regular season.  Most leagues will drop from 36 down to 31 or 32.  The CARHA World Men's tournament coming in March will occupy every rink in town for 10 days so we had to cut out some games.

I attended the fundraiser last week for our friend and mega-volunteer Tullio Porco.  Tullio was in a devastating car crash outside of Sudbury and crushed his lower body.  Lots of surgeries and lots of hospital time.  It was a great fundraiser event at the Bushplane Centre.  Great turnout.  Thanks to Albert Giommi for captaining the effort and to all the volunteers who donated their time.  And best wishes to Tullio for continued progress in his recovery.

New scheduler in SMHA this year.  Welcome to Mike Creedon who we've appointed to our board.  Mike's a familiar face around the rink, football field, lacrosse court(?) and was the scheduler for the Peewee a couple years ago.  Mike's working hard to remedy some of the faux pas from years past.

Gotta go.  I'll add more later.