A potentially positive story
There has been some encouraging news to report from within the ranks of the Sault Major Hockey Association — at least as it pertains to the Great North Midget Hockey League.
As Sault Major has been the subject of inner and outer scorn related in part to a decline in player development at the bantam and midget levels — coupled with rising player fees — a potentially-positive story is taking shape.
That is, as HockeyNewsNorth.com reported last week, the numbers are there to support two major midget and minor midget teams for the 2017-2018 season. Ergo, Sault Major will proceed with major midget and minor midget teams as part of the Great North loop this coming season.
With enough players now confirmed to ice two teams, the new Soo minor midget entry will be in addition to the existing Soo Greyhounds major midget squad.
As North Bay will also ice a new minor midget entry, the Great North will increase its membership from seven to nine teams effective the 2017-2018 season.
The nine teams will include the Soo major midgets and minor midgets, North Bay major midgets and minor midgets, Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, Sudbury Wolves minor midgets, Kapuskasing Flyers, New Liskeard Cubs and Timmins Majors.
Jamie Henderson is confirmed as the head coach of the new Soo minor midget team. Mike Stockfish will coach the new North Bay minor midget team.
At the major midget level, Kevin Panco is slated to return as the Soo’s bench boss while the venerable Guy Blanchard has committed to another season in North Bay.
There is little question that Sault Major has not had near the number of players drafted into the Ontario Hockey League over the past two years as it did over the previous couple of decades. And while having both major midget and minor midget teams may not offer a quick fix in that regard it can be seen — naysayers aside — as some sort of positive development.
Hopefully.
How can this be a great new story? It smells of Soo Major “As long as there are bodies to fill the spots then things are okay?” How many kids are asking to leave these programs (potentially stuck here with great/good options elsewhere). Don’t get me wrong Kudos to the coaches trying to make things happen, but do you know that the minor midget program is a compressed schedule/ limited exposure and costs are outrageous still? These “Hockey News North” articles continually ignore the fact that the Sault’s hockey problems lie in the lack of programming and development for the younger years. Bottom up (atom/peewee/bantam) programs need change… Until we recognize this issue nothing will change..
Well, Rep Hockey Dad, put your name out there — your full name — and offer a solution and your assistance with regards to the “issues.”
And by the way, where did I say “great news story”? I believe the headline reads: “A potentially positive story.”
Regards,
Randy
First off thanks for posting my response Randy, you show willingness to dialogue which is far more than our infamous Sault Major…… My fix you ask? It’s a long term plan that starts with the grassroots programs. Changes at those levels will only filter upward. My proof can be seen in the “My Hockey Rankings” for the last 7 years and how only 2 of the last 7 ages (2004 & 2007) have had positive results. Why? because good development/hockey people are building players the way it should be done (ground up)… The other 5 groups have just done the motions and will suffer without massive commitment from players/parents and coaches… (it maybe even too late??) Sault Major needs to recognize this issue (we know they wont) and make the necessary changes. Form a “HIGH END HOCKEY EXECUTIVE” to build a program… Put the right people in charge and watch the improvement happen. Its not brain surgery, in business would we put the janitor in for the Teacher or CEO when they are not available, then why would we do that for our grass root hockey programs?
Rep Hockey Dad ………..
Perhapps you can follow Randy’s suggestion and “get involved”. Try and make a difference in person instead a just making comments on this Site.
Who are you Dell Weber lol Ive tried in several areas and had nothing but bullshit and ridicule from guys that barely know how to pick up a hockey stick. Please dont preach to me about helping , the better you do at the minor ages with kids the more likley you get pushed away.. Jealousy in this town is rampant
Hi RR word is is that Darren Smylie from Highland Ford has taken over the Minor Midgets to be called the Highland Ford Thunderbirds.
Have you heard this RR?
The owner of Highland Ford just happens to have a son who is Minor Midget age wow what a coincidence L.O.L.
Here we go again with Dads buying a team for there kids ?? !! Just asking thats all.
I think any business (eg. High Land Ford) that sponsors a Team should be thanked for their Sponsorship and not critisized for doing so!
I know that over here that Bruno and the “Soo Eagles” are very thank full to the sponsors.
I agree with Old Soo Legion Fan and Rep Hockey Dad… something really needs to be fixed in the minor hockey system here in S.S.M. and it needs to stop being parents who have money that will start up a “rep” hockey team so their son can play “rep” hockey. When I went through the system players had to earn their spots on the team and not a single parent was involved. Plus the cost was little to nothing, compared to the $6,000-$7,500 that parents pay today for their kids to get low end coaching. The best coach’s in the system are Henderson, and Cowan. That’s too far of a gap to have good coaches for young kids. they’re losing out on 2-3 years of solid development
Dont forget Doucette and Toms for the 04’s That group has the strongest northern ontario results in many many years . That not just talent is good coaching
Sir Charl’s comment about parents not getting involved in hockey teams back when is not true to me and not to knock the kids that played because they were good players. Example the starting of the pee wee teams that went to quebec good team , Coach and some executive members had sons on teams. Also some of coaches in the old soo major hockey league jim glenwright , mike zuke, and executives like lee rogers had sons playing. S ome of the trainers, sponsors or helpers were parents of boys on the team. Dont know if they had the same problems back then . But it was good hockey to watch. So to me same old same old
I have that Highland Ford jingle stuck in my head from when I listen to Greyhound games via Rock 101. “… I love my Highland Ford”
And this is potentially a positive story, Randy. Good stuff.
Good for you randy for publishing a positive story. I can tell you that some parents expectations exceed reality . Blaming poor coaching and soo minor or major for their kids’ lack of development. Reality is many of these kids are not good enough to play rep hockey but the parents are living out their dreams. In terms of cost , sorry but it does cost money to travel to southern ontario to play in the tournaments so yes the cost is hefty. When there are fundraisers , the parents don’t want to get involved so the cost goes up. Perhaps these parents that are so upset can uproot their kids to southern ontario so they can get a reality check. I can tell you that i was always honest with my kid while he was playing AAA . As a family we enjoyed the travel, the partying with other parents and the games but kept everything in perspective. My favourite line with my kid was someday you will all be playing in the mayor’s cup. Parents have to realize that the chances of going forward in a hockey career are far and few between. Stop taking the fund out of the game and look at rep hockey as a chance for your kid to make some lifelong friends and a chance for the parents to socialize and enjoy the experience. You cannot put a price on that.
Unbenounced to Hockey Critic , you are part of the problem. You are a parent who likely didn’t care what type of coaching or development your son received and blindly signed the cheques over to team managers. Here’ s a bit of late advice, your son would’ve made life long friends in AA or A, you could’ve partied with parents on road trips and ‘drum roll’….it would’ve cost you tens of thousands less for him to play there?? Congrats on contributing to the status quo of SSM rep hockey. The tens of thousands of dollars you spent from your kids education fund could’ve at the very least bought a spot on the ‘Thunder’ bus with your name as a major sponsor.
Gordie so what you are saying is everyone who played AAA just blindly gave their money to the managers but now years later gordie is the ultimate judge on coaching and development. Gordie you probably now are criticizing the coaches in AA or A for the lack of your son’s development. Take your son out of town . I am sure that the thousands of dollars you speak about would solve your problems and stop the whining. There is hockey across the river, there is hockey is southern ontario. I am sure that if you search high and low there will be a coach that you approve of but i highly doubt it.
Hockey critic you nailed it on the head, when you’re paying tens of thousands of dollars for a lemon , you’ve earned the right as a paying hockey parent to be not only the coaching judge but the jury too . You also got it right that moving to major centres has become the new trend. If your crazy enough to pay the gads of money our local AAA programs are charging then you’re better off moving him so he receives the quality coaching and exposure he needs to project to the next level. Besides what’s a little more of those hard earned $$$$$ out of that education fund really matter to you Hockey Critic? As long as your drinking beer while kissing the coaches asses and signing away cheques it’s all good right? I hope at minimum Sault Major gave you a gold plated frame for that proudly displayed beer league diploma.
Cheers
Parents have gone crazy. That’s the problem in the sault. I can’t believe the stuff I read on here. You want to know how kids get better? It’s in the summer. During the year they are doing things they picked up on in the summer. I can’t stand people shitting on basically every coach who has a team in the sault. No one is good enough or experienced enough to coach at the aaa level is the main complaint I keep reading and hearing from parents. Forgetting that the main problem is your kids aren’t good enough. Do u think these kids that leave the soo for down south are leaving because of the coaching? No they leave to play with kids who’s abilitys won’t bring them down. Regardless of how bad the coach is, if your a top player you get more a lot more opportunity staying in the sault then you would going down south and playing second line minutes if you go to a good team. These kids don’t leave because of the coach. They leave so they can practice and play with kids who will make them better. The guys who are in charge of the midget programs ( Henderson and deluca ) one has multiple Dudley Hewitt championship and the other has taking teams to the medal rounds of ohfs at the bantam aaa level . Do you understand how hard that is? These guys are good coaches. The problem is hockey isn’t as good as it once was in the sault. Maybe the price inflation is to blame. But maybe it’s the entitled parents ? I think it’s the parents. For the most part they have gone crazy. Who knows why. But all I can say is hockey at the midget level is fine with both coaches sault major has now. Also if your kid is a goalie thank the lucky stars Jamie disano is around. The sault is lucky to have a guy like him. Not sure of his costs but IMO he’s worth the cost if you want to see major improvements over the summer.
Bottom line is parents who move their kids away ” blame it on the coaching ” because that’s easier then telling a friend who they have played with for the last 5 – 7 years that their kid isn’t even close to the same caliber anymore. That’s the reason they are leaving. Your only as good as the guy you play with. It’s hard when you have 3 real good players, 5 mediocore players and 10 who don’t belong at the aaa level. That’s why they leave. But good luck getting a parent to admit that.