The kids and volunteers involved in the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs organization deserve all the respect in the world. I bet few organizations have people giving so much in terms of organization and travelling time as the AAA Chiefs, who draw elite players from small towns and farms in Elgin and Middlesex counties.
Players and parents on the same team can live hours apart and "home" games and practices are rarely around the corner in the community rink. With no home community, no home rink, games and practices could be anywhere the ice convener can buy ice, including in the City of London, which sits in the middle of the Elgin-Middlesex catchment area.
Created to give small town and rural kids a chance to play elite hockey, the Chiefs have not just survived but thrived, graduating oodles of players to major junior and some to the pros, including San Jose Sharks Captain Joe Thornton of St. Thomas. I believe Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers might've played for the Chiefs after not being selected for a London Jr. Knights team.
Without the benefit of playing with hometown pride, without the budget advantage of getting favourable ice rental rates, without a home rink to hang banners and display trophies, the Chiefs, its coaches and parents have created one of the most successful AAA programs in the province during the past 20 or so years.
Ten years ago, it looked like the Chiefs were going to have a home rink when the City of St. Thomas began planning a new twin-pad facility in which the Chiefs and St. Thomas Jr. B Stars were to be the main tenants. But the thought of so many out-of-town kids involved with the Chiefs using an arena complex paid for by St. Thomas taxpayers and donations sent a chill through the city - OK, it was a backlash that dried up fundraising.
Now, finally, the Chiefs organization has found an arena to call home. The London Free Press's Ryan Pyette writes about the new twin-pad arena in Komoka, on the outskirts of London, being the new, truly, home rink of the Chiefs.
It's as centrally located as a home rink could be for the Chiefs program. As the major tenants, the Chiefs will have their logo front and centre, a special dressing room and, hopefully, a trophy case and the right to hang banners.
Happiest of all might be the ice convener for the Chiefs!
The Chiefs are planning to showcase the new arena, which opens for the 2011-12 season, as the home of their annual AAA tournament.
Congratulations to the Chiefs - and kudos to to Komoka and its parent municipality of Middlesex Centre for making this happen.
Players and parents on the same team can live hours apart and "home" games and practices are rarely around the corner in the community rink. With no home community, no home rink, games and practices could be anywhere the ice convener can buy ice, including in the City of London, which sits in the middle of the Elgin-Middlesex catchment area.
Created to give small town and rural kids a chance to play elite hockey, the Chiefs have not just survived but thrived, graduating oodles of players to major junior and some to the pros, including San Jose Sharks Captain Joe Thornton of St. Thomas. I believe Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers might've played for the Chiefs after not being selected for a London Jr. Knights team.
Without the benefit of playing with hometown pride, without the budget advantage of getting favourable ice rental rates, without a home rink to hang banners and display trophies, the Chiefs, its coaches and parents have created one of the most successful AAA programs in the province during the past 20 or so years.
Ten years ago, it looked like the Chiefs were going to have a home rink when the City of St. Thomas began planning a new twin-pad facility in which the Chiefs and St. Thomas Jr. B Stars were to be the main tenants. But the thought of so many out-of-town kids involved with the Chiefs using an arena complex paid for by St. Thomas taxpayers and donations sent a chill through the city - OK, it was a backlash that dried up fundraising.
Now, finally, the Chiefs organization has found an arena to call home. The London Free Press's Ryan Pyette writes about the new twin-pad arena in Komoka, on the outskirts of London, being the new, truly, home rink of the Chiefs.
It's as centrally located as a home rink could be for the Chiefs program. As the major tenants, the Chiefs will have their logo front and centre, a special dressing room and, hopefully, a trophy case and the right to hang banners.
Happiest of all might be the ice convener for the Chiefs!
The Chiefs are planning to showcase the new arena, which opens for the 2011-12 season, as the home of their annual AAA tournament.
Congratulations to the Chiefs - and kudos to to Komoka and its parent municipality of Middlesex Centre for making this happen.
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