NOJHL commish speaks out

By Hockey News North Staff
February 9, 2017
Tweet

Share

A standout Ontario Hockey League defenseman during his playing days with the Sudbury Wolves, 54-year old Robert Mazzuca is now in his sixth season as the commissioner of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Mazzuca also serves as the chair of the junior council for the Ontario Hockey Federation. Following is a transcript of an interview with HockeyNewsNorth.com and Mazzuca.

HNN: You have overseen the expansion of the NOJHL to 12 teams during your time as commissioner. What can you tell us about the overall state of the NOJHL in terms of health of the member teams, calibre of play and parity in the league and off-ice initiatives that have been taken?

MAZZUCA: The caliber of play and parity this season is balanced, extremely competitive and on any given night, any team can win. However, with the caliber of play and parity, one of the constant challenges the member teams and the league face on an ongoing basis are costs and what are those costs to offer this type of Jr A programming. There is no doubt the NOJHL member teams have invested a significant amount of financial resources over the past number of years, which has made their respective programming better, both on and off the ice.

The initiatives from an off-ice perspective, player safety focus, continues with the concussion management, Jr. A Supplement and our partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association. And with these programs, player safety both on and off the ice are critically important to the commitment the member clubs have made to the player/parent of what type of Jr. A Programming the NOJHL offers.

HNN: There have been reports of concern regarding the ownership stability of the two-time reigning champion Soo Thunderbirds. Anything you can tell us about the Thunderbirds moving forward?

MAZZUCA: On any given day of the week, no matter what time of the year, I hear all kinds of rumors and reports, on many fronts which is really a distraction but comes with the territory. What I can say and will say, the Soo Thunderbirds are not going anywhere, they will be staying in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario and playing in the NOJHL for the 2017-2018 season.

HNN: The Ontario Hockey League recently introduced a new under-18 draft effective this April for midget players (with 1999 and 2000 birth dates) to go along with its annual under-16 draft. But the under-18 draft does not allow for un-drafted 1999 and 2000 birth-year players who have moved up to play in junior leagues such as the NOJHL. Your thoughts on this? Don’t be shy.

MAZZUCA: Let me begin by saying I understand the concept of the draft but any time you impose a restriction or a regulation that restricts movement in hockey, I question whether or not we are in the development business or not, it is never a good thing in my opinion. What is interesting is the level ignored continues to be Jr. A hockey, which still covers players in the identical age of this draft. The 16-year old player in the vast majority of these types of situations, is superior to those playing midget hockey.

Furthermore, when you look at the big picture, the impending arrival of sports schools will impact 16 and 17 years olds, if not younger, they have a different set of rules and regulations than Jr. A hockey. There are restriction of inter-branch transfers of 17 year olds, imports reduced from 8 to 6, USA Hockey’s new import rules for the United States Hockey League of two more Canadians…and one beings to wonder what will be left of Jr. A hockey in the very near future?

We are in a system that some often use the saying “we’re here to develop Canadians” but at the same time, we have record numbers of American and European kids playing in minor midget hockey than ever before but there are not enough kids playing at these levels, more of them leaving the game than ever before, so how can we develop these “Canadians?”

Let’s find a way to keep them in the system, let’s enlighten them and let them know there are other programs within the system that exist for them to develop as players and as individuals. Therefore, other levels of hockey that operate with a different set of rules and regulations get to develop their programs with all these other players, and Jr. A hockey does not.

In my opinion anyway, we should have the same rules that apply to everyone that is going after the same player, and whoever offers the best program should succeed and those that cannot succeed, should not be in the development of hockey players, both on and off the ice.

And finally, we should let player and his parents decide where best to play and not have rules and regulations in place, telling them where they have to play.