Early end to games cheats kids

Curfewed hockey is common in house leagues as organizations try to keep costs down. Unexpected delays in games, usually due to injuries, often mean games are over with a few minutes left on the clock. Coaches know it and protect one-goal leads by running out the clock using kids, usually goalies, to "stay down hurt" for a long time, calling timeouts or asking referees questions. All part of the gamesmanship and my son played many years with a coach who was considered a master at it by opposing parents.
But playing competitive hockey is supposed to be different - a step up in all regards and a game to be taken more seriously.
Apparently not here in the heartland of minor hockey where the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario and its member associations can't seem to make it happen.
Twice already this fall my son's team has been involved in two curfewed games. In both cases, his team was trailing by one with lots of potential to come back to earn a tie or even a win.
The first time it happened was understandable. In what was already a rough-and-tumble teenage game against one of the London Junior Knights elite teams, the almost unthinkable happened. A player experienced serious medical distress on the bench and was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. Once play resumed, it wasn't long before the goalie needed a moment. And the coach needed a word. Mission accomplished - the oldtimers had arrived for their game and the kids were off the ice.
Last night, it was more difficult to fathom.
The arena schedule was already messed up when our team started to arrive at Carling arena in the city's north end. Our scheduled start of 8:30 pm came and went. It was 9 pm before the teams got on the ice.
More than five minutes was left on the clock in a one-goal game when the Nationals scored into an empty net.
Once again, the oldtimers were champing at the bit and the kids were off the ice.
Is it fair that it should happen when parents pay the megabucks for competitive hockey? Is it more unfortunate when the game is so close? Yes and yes.
The answer to last night's fiasco is obvious. When there are game delays, younger age groups should choke up on the time for their games a little bit so as not to interfere with the elite midget games at the end of the night.

Either that or the oldtimers could have a childhood flashback and cut the kids a little slack.