Is the new organization of elite AAA midget hockey in Kitchener-Waterloo the way of the future? Will major junior cities such as London follow suit with a new system that has top homegrown players placed under the eye of local major junior coaches?
One wonders as the new organization starts getting traction in K-W. In a nutshell, the AAA teams in the Twin Cities are merging at the minor midget and major midget levels, creating half as many teams and bumping kids who aren't selected for AAA a level down to AA.
The Rangers say they are doing it for the good of the community and talent development, not to get the inside track on drafting local gems from minor midget.
This article from the
Waterloo Region Record goes a long way in selling the new way of doing things, but tryouts for next season's teams in both cities could be interesting.
Most at risk of being lost might be small town and rural high-skill players living near Waterloo. Will this result in creation of a Waterloo-Wellington AAA organization similar to the highly successful Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs?
