Waterloo to Voodoo-ville
Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added some goal-scoring gain with the cash-exchange acquisition of forward Gary Mantz from the Waterloo Siskins of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
In impressive fashion, Mantz netted 32 goals in 47 games for Waterloo in 2015-2016, regular-season and playoffs included.
Having visited Powassan recently, the Waterloo-born Mantz is ready for Voodoo-ville.
“Powassan is giving me an opportunity to grow as a player and a person. I’m excited to start this season and meet all the boys, coaching staff and especially the fans. This is all new to me and a new beginning. I’m very excited to be a Powassan Voodoo,” said the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Mantz, who has a 1997 birth date.
Voodoos general manager Chris Dawson is familiar with Mantz.
“We have seen the impact Junior B players have had in our league like (Brayden) Stortz last season with the (Kirkland Lake) Gold Miners,” Dawson stated.
“We hope Mantz can have a big impact for us as well. He is a small-but-skilled forward and we are thrilled with his addition,” added the always-thorough Dawson.
Seems like it could be a good new addition.
On the pulse RR!
Mr. Russon: Something does not add up here like why would a kid leave his hometown (Waterloo) to play up North??? Is this not a laterel move???
GO GO,
It’s not a lateral move. The GOJHL is Junior B and the NOJHL is Junior A.
Regards,
Randy
100 % Correct R.R.
GOJHL is a better overall league , if you have Stortz coming in to the NOJHL and putting 100+ points up there’s obviously no doubt that the GOJHL is in fact better hockey
Going Up,
My answer to you will be the same answer that I gave GO GO and that is: The GOJHL is Junior B and the NOJHL is Junior A.
As for your statement, it ranks under “supposition.”
Here is something pretty interesting. How come a team can sign a player who already is signed? I get the OJHL and GOJHL agreement but tell me Randy how the NOJHL gets away stealing players already signed? Is it because they actually sign cards and not electronically that they can steal players. Technically you are right it’s not a lateral move because of the letter and not the calibre. The GOJHL is a punching bag for the NOJHL. Transfer 1500 dollars but in return the GOJHL can’t do the same.
Something smells here. Bet you broken sticks and chip pucks and a couple of pylons that the owners or the GM has found some loop hole and is paying Mr. “Integrity” Mantz an educational package he can’t refuse. REALY ….Powassan ? Waterloo boy?
Well hope the young lad enjoys his stay. If I was the owner in Waterloo I’d tell him to dress warm and don’t let the door hit you when you leave.
Interesting read from June 8.
Gary Mantz Staying Put- Re-Ups With Waterloo Siskins
In an offseason where the GOJHL stars have been fleeing in bunches to other Junior A Hockey Leagues across Canada and the United States, Waterloo Siskins Sniper Gary Mantz has agreed to return to the Waterloo Siskins.
It’s been quite an offseason for the GOJHL and for Gary. There was lots of speculation that Gary was going to be jumping ship and heading to the BCHL or Northern Ontario but as of June 8th, Gary will be returning to his hometown Siskins. It may be the biggest move the Siskins make this offseason. Although they officially didn’t add a player, you likely wouldn’t replace a guy who scored nearly a goal a game during the regular season. With plenty of options, Gary decided to stand by the team who gave him his shot in Junior Hockey.
The Waterloo Siskins, had a terrible first half of the season last season but found success after tweaking the roster a bit at the deadline. The almost nineteen year old scored twenty seven goals in thirty five regular season games last season. The GOJHL Is a great league that has been good to me and produces top talent for the NCAA says Mantz, why turn your back on a good thing.
Gary had offers from the BCHL, The OJHL and The NOJHL but at the end of the day, returning to the Siskins was the best fit. Personally I think Waterloo was the best fit , I’ve played here the past two years , I’ve grown up here and I think that next here team will be a contending team for the Cherrey cup, Gary mentioned. Gary would go onto say “Honestly , the second half of the season had an impact on my choice with how the team gelled together . The fans are amazing and it showed throughout the season and in playoffs ! I just couldn’t leave home”.
Graduating this past season was captain Nick Hirst, which opens up a spot on the leadership team for Gary. Now a seasoned veteran in the GOJHL, Gary is ready to step into a leadership role with the Siskins moving forward. I Personally I believe I’m ready to step into a leadership role this season Gary Says, coming into my third season with the Siskins and being in the shadows of current and former captains they’ve showed me a lot and showed me what it takes to be a leader and I believe I have what it takes to be one this season.
Gary will be wearing his number 10 jersey come this fall and will be in the top six in Waterloo. Gary has all the tools to be a top point producer in this league and next year will be given every shot.
I’d like to thank the teams that invited me out and who reached out to me. But at the end of the day, Waterloo and the GOJHL has been good to me. I feel that this league gives me the best opportunity to be the best player I can be. I am a top six player and am happy to be returning. I am looking forward to getting back to the Rec Centre and playing in front of my friends, family and the best fans in hockey. – Gary Mantz
It’s called Rule E108… It’s a legal rule we all know the GOJHL is a great league and should be Junior A… However these are within the rules any junior B or Junior C player can be claimed until his team begins play the following season… This is also why the GOJHL is going to join AAU and leave Hockey Canada.
I’ll get back to you on the AAU. I’d leave to when my league pays big dollars to the clowns and puppets of the OHA. The point is here that neither the player or the team has any integrity when he was already signed. Powassan lost out on June 8 when he signed in Waterloo. It is an asinine rule. Really a team could fold in the summer with this rule. Again both deserve each other. I’d be angry if I was a fan of the NOJHL and players jumped after being signed. It’s probably a great fee to pay to get Mantz on account of arguably the top midget age players are playing in the GOJHL this season. Anyway enjoy your hockey season …..I know I will. Cheers
Jr B fan… I am not disagreeing with you… In fact I agree, however these are the rules right now, almost every other Jr B league is below there provincial counterpart in quality, however in the GOJHL it is to be honest the opposit, in years previous to this up coming they were allowed unlimited 20 year olds and a lot had OHL experience, case and point the OHL loves he GOJHL a free to play quality league for there 16 and 17 year olds to develope, he OJHL “now has cages” Major junior does not, have stamped here label as a NCAA progression league… But hide behind “player safety” as the slogan… The reality is the OJHL has known for a long time there league is on par with the GOJHL, the only difference owners putting teams in downtown Toronto are required to charge kids 6k plus where in Chatam, Caledonia, Niagara, Elmira, etc etc etc there are deep deep pockets. And the AAU knows it’s, they are just letting these simple new leagues put he basis of there brand in Ontario before he GOJHL jumps from hockey Canada… Now imagine this… The OHL has a euro they really want to keep an eye on for the import draft, does his agent maybe get a hint hint wink wink to play in
GOJHL….
this is in reply to Jr B Fan:
I am having somewhat of a difficult time trying to understand why the bitterness, the slander and the accusations towards the Powassan Voodoos and the NOJHL over the recent addition of Gary Mantz.
As it was already mentioned, the OHF regulation E 108, now E107 I found out when I asked, was followed, so no rule or regulation was broken, the transfer is legal.
The regulation has been around for some time, and it applies for players moving upwards (midget to Jr A/B, Jr A & B to Major Jr) to the next level of hockey, no, it does not smell, no, all the broken sticks and chipped pucks, it is called “DEVELOPMENT”.
As for the GOJHL being a punching bag for the NOJHL, sending $1500 dollars in and that is all it takes. I will agree with you on that one, yes indeed that is what the regulation says and I quote from the OHF book (found it on the internet by the way ” The Player release is automatically granted upon receipt of the maximum dollar figure paid by the new organization to the previous organization’s Member Partner”.
You might want to ask yourself and other GOJHL members, just how many kids from Northern Ontario are playing in the GOJHL? rumor has it, a randy should be able to confirm this one, a few Soo midget aged players are signed with GOJHL Teams! It goes both ways but again, it that not the main purpose of both the NOJHL and GOJHL, todevelop hockey players or am I missing something?
Dont get me wrong, the GOJHL is a good league, and I am sure the NOJHL is very envious of the Jr B and Jr C leagues we have down here as an affiliate system, an abundance of players, and less cost for travel to name a few.
In another comment, same post, you state, ” when my league pays big dollars to the clowns and puppets of the OHA.. Again, your ignorance of the rules and regulations are exposed but to call out the OHA? I asked myself there has to me more to it than just a player signing on to a different team that might be the root problem of this posting. Sure enough, the internet is a wonderful source of information.
http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/sports-story/6778032-updated-gojhl-takes-a-shot-at-junior-a-status-again/
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/07/27/gojhl-aims-to-raise-its-b-status
The above two stories really provided in my opinion anyways, perhaps the root of one of the issues why you are so bitter towards the OHA and leaving Hockey Canada? The Voodoos and NOJHL are just a sideshow.
It is almost like a threat, we dont get our way, or we dont like the rules, were leaving!!!!
You just might want to ask the others who did not get their own way or do not like the rules, how things turned out for them when they left?
Just thought i would toss that out there. Care to comment Jr B Fan?
NOJHL is not the OJHL. There John Black is an agreement I’m surely you know about. Anyways rules will probably never be changed the feeding frenzy in the GOJHL will continue. It’s about signing a legal document. It’s about integrity, it’s about educating your kids on making right choices. Might be legal but it’s wrong. One question for you John Black and a simple yes or no is fine. Do you hope to see the GOJHL a JR A league with Hockey Canada?
Jr B Fan,
I have just one question for you: How can something be legal but be wrong? (My son is a lawyer and he might beg to differ with you on interpretation of law.)
Regards,
Randy
Randy sorry for not getting back to your question. I’ve been enjoying some vacation time.
I can’t answer that question because I’m not a lawyer. However if you might be kind enough to put the link on from today’s K-W record “Siskins lodge player tampering complaint against Tier 2 team” I’m sure it will make for some great reading and a conversation piece. In all honesty it’s really to bad it has come to this.
It really is time to look at this agreement Hockey Canada has with Jr A leagues and rules that are not in fair play with the GOJHL teams and their owners who pay the bills for players to play in a great league.
Hi Jr B Fan,
I read the story in question. In fact, it is written by former colleague Christine Rivet. There is also no conclusion to the story, as of yet.
Interesting point of views, legal and moral not always congruent. Obviously the player believes he has better opportunity in Powassan.
The post secondary educational opportunities in South and Southwestern Ontario, the no fee to play, no billet fee, short travel distance – they don’t get home at 2 or 3 am, large fan base (800 -1200 reg games, 1500+ playoffs) and deep pockets of the teams are all really good reasons to head south. As for development, the GOJHL has always been ranked higher than the NOJHL by the Junior Hockey News. I can understand going to the BCHL, CCHL, to make gains in development and exposure but … pack some Gravol and get use to long bus rides! Guessing his parents aren’t paying for him to play and billet in Powassan either! Pay to play junior hockey not the same price for all players, I gather.