Clever tactic or skirting the rules?

Here's a tactic that seemed worth a try, but ultimately ran afoul of the league for cheating.
In a Toronto house/select league, a team essentially pulled its goalie for the entire game, dressing the girl who usually played goal as a skater. The tactic, discussed with referees before the puck dropped, worked and the team won. But upon review, the game was recorded as a 5-0 default win for the other team.
Was that the right decision for this level of hockey - house league 10- to 12-year-old girls and boys?
Likely not. The No. 1 rule of the game at this level is to have fun. Making friends and keeping fit would follow as rules two and three.
For details, read the full story in the Toronto Star.

Car!

Why Toronto is a silly city. Can't offer decent minor hockey rinks. Can't play road hockey. Can't build a decent NHL team.
Here's what happened on the street hockey debate, as reported by the Toronto Star.

Simmons on Gillis, Frost and Danton

On the eve of playoff elimination for the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Sun sportswriter blogs about GM Mike Gillis and his role in the David Frost minor hockey strange behaviour/Mike Danton case. Interesting reading here that may make some of us jump off the Canucks bandwagon.

The goal and the glory ...

The last year my son played house league before making the jump up to competitive hockey was remarkable. The team went through the entire regular season undefeated in London's Community Hockey League and it was, for most of us, a foregone conclusion that we'd play in the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario championship down the road in Brantford.
There was a hiccup. The tournament was scheduled for Easter weekend with the opening games on Good Friday and championship on Easter Sunday.
One parent spoke up to say there was no way he and his son would play in the championship tournament. Another parent, obviously not a church-goer, piped up asking if Good Friday was big deal. The conversation went downhill from there.
Turns out we didn't have to worry. The no-loss kids were defeated in a deciding game after a "hand of God" play in which a key goal by our kids was disallowed after the referee asked the opposing goalie if the puck went in the net. I kid you not. The young goalie gave the answer you'd expect and the dilemma over playing on Good Friday and Easter was passed to another team of 9 and 10-year-olds.
I'm reminded of this story not just because it's Easter weekend, but because of a story published earlier this month by the Globe and Mail about Toronto Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer, who is only one of a handful of publicly devout Christian athletes in the NHL.
We all like to balance all aspect of family life -  kids' hockey and church are often in conflict.
Wonder what James Reimer, Mike Fisher or Jarome Iginla would do if some goof asked them to play on Good Friday?

Domi watch

Not many 15-year-olds generate a buzz like that surrounding Max Domi of Toronto, who is eligible for this year's OHL draft.
The Hockey News calls Max "easily" the best player at a recent NCAA showcase. And while the future seems to point to an eventual career with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (and who wouldn't want to play at Yost Arena?), some believe Max would play in the OHL if the right team drafted him. Rumour has it the only right team would be the London Knights.
We'll soon see.

Canadian sledge hockey team wins in London

The London Free Press came up with some great shots from the gold medal game of the World Sledge Hockey Championship in London today. Canada won as expected, although the 8-0 final score over Norway wasn't as close as many hoped.
For some reason, The Free Press used coverage of the sledge hockey championship in its news section instead of sports. Was it because the athletes were disabled?

Sledge tournament prompts renovations

Western Fair Sports Centre in London, Ont., is usually known as the home of a Jr. B teen hockey club and a minor hockey palace. But this week, it's become headquarters for the World Sledge Hockey championship.
The facility has completed a bunch of renovations that startle. In the main, Olympic-ice rink, clear plexiglass has replaced the solid boards so that sledge players can watch the game when they're in the bench area. We can't say they're on the bench as it has been removed.
Plastic ice sheets line the hallway so players can slide from the dressing rooms to the ice surface.
Great coverage of the tournament - which I expect Canada will win - is available at lfpress.com. London Free Press reporter Deborah Van Brenk (debatlfpress) is tweeting from the tournament tonight. Click here for Deb's video report.

Couture in running for Calder

Congratulations to London, Ont., minor hockey product Logan Couture for being one of the three finalists for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.
A former Junior Knight (naturally), Couture is a buddy of the greatest young defenceman in hockey, also a London product, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings.
Couture stars for the San Jose Sharks - amusing that the Sharks and Kings are playing each other in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Toronto Star has the rookie nominees story. And The London Free Press has a great piece about this city's Stanley Cup participants.

Takin' it to the streets

Road hockey, street hockey, ball hockey ... call it what you will. Fact is, it should be allowed on quiet residential streets. Apparently some in Toronto are sour on it. Some, such as Counc. Josh Matlow, are sweet.
The Toronto Star has the latest flare-up.

Trevor Gretzky: Future pro

Wayne Gretzky's 18-year-old son is talented athlete with pro potential - but not in hockey.
Trevor Gretzky is aiming for a pro career in baseball. Click here for the Toronto Star story.

Crowded crease

How many goaltending prospects do the Toronto Maple Leafs intend to stockpile? The latest is a 21-year-old from Sweden, who is a musician when he's not flopping around in the Swedish Elite League. Read about him by clicking here.
Any truth to the rumour the Leafs are also interested in signing Alex Weitzel of London, who is also skilled in Guitar Hero?

The risk of better protection

Do sports helmets lead to more concussions? Interesting thought, the theory being that wearing protection spurs us to act or play more recklessly. Canada's Globe and Mail raises the topic and will be hosted a live discussion, the text for which you can still read by clicking here. 

Is minor hockey hurtin'?

Nobody ever claimed minor hockey was for the meek, but is it intended to cause long-term damage?
Of course that's not the intent of hockey. But until the sport gets control of the game, there will be more and more reports like this one by Terry Davidson in the Toronto Sun about brutal hitting (both legal and illegal) causing injuries with life-long ramifications such as concussions.
Whether it's the fault of the amour-like equipment, a size differential of players, too much sugar, odd coaching or under-skilled referees ... I don't know. But there's an increasing buzz about serious injuries in minor hockey.
As one tiny example, I have never seen so many players miss games due to injuries as I did this past season with my son's midget team. Concussions. Broken bones - arm, collar, hand. Broken molar. We even had a goaltender go back into a playoff game after suffering a significant cut. A backup goalie wasn't dressed because he was out with a concussion.
No one signs his kid up for athletics to get hurt. If the reputation of the sport becomes a "hurt factory", parents will keep their credit cards in their wallets and sign up little Johnny for guitar lessons instead.

Red and Yellow (Black and Yellow Wiz Khalifa Parody)

Great work involving a two kids my son has played hockey with over the years. A fundraiser for cancer by Saunders Secondary School of London, Ont.

Season slur story, take 2

Is this the season of the slur among teenage hockey players?
First, in November, we had house league teens in Peterborough embroiled in use of the n-word to taunt a black teen. So serious was the incident that the coach of the black player refused to continue the game and was suspended.
Now, at a higher level of competition, we have the Jr. B St. Thomas Stars and London Nationals in a similar situation. The Nationals are accusing players on the Stars of hurling insults laced with the word "Hitler" at two members - Noah and Brendan Schwartz - of the Nationals who happen to be Jewish.
Not a suitable tactic.
The incident happened in Game 6 of a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff. Game 7 is tonight in London.
Morris Dalla Costa of The London Free Press reported the slur story.

Hockey words as quick art

Ever goof around with Wordle? Here's what happened when I dumped in a bunch of words and names connected with last season's midget team. Click Wordle.

Leaders' debate or NHL playoffs?

Canadians have their priorities straight: The move's on to shift the date for a French-language televised election debate on Thursday because it will conflict with the opening game of the Montreal Canadiens' playoffs, the Toronto Star reports.
On the same topic, Fox News takes a mocking tone about our preference for watching playoff hockey over a political debate. Fox? Wasn't that the outfit that put video-like coloured tails on the puck during NHL games so American viewers could follow the little black disc?

Max Domi a London Knight?

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun writes that maybe he was duped in reporting Tie Domi's son, Max, would be heading to the U.S. to play junior. Simmons says many in the OHL believe the impressive prospect will be drafted by my hometown London Knights and eventually play with them.
As Simmons says, time will tell. But can't you imagine proud papa Tie wanting Max to be coached by Dale Hunter?

Final skate with ashes a tribute to hockey player

Family and friends provided a fitting, final tribute to a special person - and talented hockey player - who lost her battle with cancer. They took her cremated remains for a final skate. CBC has the story.
Funerals should reflect the person and provide comfort and reflection for family and friends. Mandi Schwartz's family did it right.

Hockey gear being collected for kids in Israel

For those in the Toronto area who have surplus or outgrown hockey gear, here's a chance to be generous.
Toronto Sun sports writer Steve Simmons tweets that stuff in good condition is being collected at 4600 Bathurst St., Toronto, on Sunday, April 10, from 10 am to 3 pm. Equipment collected is being sent to kids in Israel.
Needless to say it should be washed or submerged in Febreeze before being donated. Think of the poor person in Israel who has to open the shipping container.
For blog readers not in Toronto, I'd suggest hanging on to your outgrown gear and donating it to Goodwill next September as we ramp up for another minor hockey season. Let's get all the kids who want to play in the game.

Minor hockey no cheap trick

The Toronto Sun is reporting a poll that points out how much parents are paying for hockey. But spending $1000 a season seems a little on the light side based on my experience. A "grand" season would be playing in a local or house league with one tournament and used equipment.
This season, our midget started with tryout fees, a league upcharge which totalled about $700. Then added was a team levy of $1000 for tournaments and other expenses. Add to that the cost of travel to school night league games and travel and overnight accommodation at tournaments ... and you've got yourself quite a pastime.
The only break you get once your son or daughter reaches midget age is that they stop outgrowing their equipment. Buying skates every year when they are younger gets onerous. Teenagers, however, are hard on sticks and nothing short of a stylish composite at $100 a pop will do - never mind that most of them can't really get the flex advantage working for them.
Is it worth it? Well, duh, it's minor hockey! No better way to blow the family budget.

RCMP investigate head shot

This sort of thing should never happen, especially in a non-contact peewee tournament. But a hit to the head left a 12-year-old boy in New Brunswick convulsing on the ice and led to police investigating it as an assault.
William Theriault is recovering, but suffers headaches and has little ability to concentrate, CBC reports.
Minor hockey organizations can brace for more police invovlement - or civil lawsuits - until such time as hits to the head are taken more seriously. Deliberate contact to the head has no part in minor hockey and happens as the result of poor coaching, questionable sportsmanship and can accelerate during the course of a game due to soft officiating.
Parents, for the most part, want hits to the head eliminated from the sport. If it doesn't happen, they'll start taking action themselves by choosing other sports and activities for their kids.

Life saved at arena

Kids usually don't have to worry about this, but those hanging on to the minor hockey dream do. Here's how a life was saved at a Sunday night huff and puff game in Dundas, Ont.,, as posted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Penguins pay for kids' concussion tests

Kudos to the Pittsburgh Penguins for stepping up by helping local minor hockey monitor concussions.
Fox News reports the NHL team's foundation is funding baseline testing for young players - the same type of testing minor hockey organizations in Ontario have sometimes offered for free.
Of course the Penguins know all about concussions in hockey. The world's best player, Pens captain Sidney Crosby, has been sidelined for months because of a stupid hit that resulted in a concussion.
Still, their concern for kids and captain Crosby doesn't stop the Penguins from employing perhaps the dummest, most reckless player in the NHL. If the Penguins really wanted to make a statement that would lead to some common sense in pro and youth hockey, they'd turf Matt Cooke today.

West London Hawks Midgets at Toronto Avalanche tournament

Enemy of arena toilets

Love this story out of Aylmer, Ont., by London Free Press reporter Deb Van Brenk in which the reason for clogged arena toilets are traced to people flushing skate laces down the toilet.
Not sure what people are thinking and the arena in Aylmer is pretty spiffy, not one of those Toronto downmarket wrecks that might inspire such bad behavior. (Hockey kids do two things: Their play rises to the level of the competition and their dressing room behaviour rises or sinks on the niceness and space of their surroundings.)

No Cinderella ending

Well, so much for Cinderella endings. This final tournament for my son's team will be remembered not for a career-capping trophy, but with a teammate's surgery, crazy penalty calls that thinned out our already sparse bench, and a dicey, winter drive home from Toronto - on April 3!
The boys won all four round-robin games at the Toronto Avalanche tournament, but the third and fourth games proved costly. Game 3 saw a referee influenced into giving one of our most gentlemanly defencemen a two-game suspension for kneeing. Game 4 saw one of our assistant captains hit awkwardly into the boards and breaking and dislocating his wrist. He left the game for a nearby hospital where he was soon in surgery. The same game saw another of our forwards tossed and suspended for a game for reasons not apparent to spectators.
All that left us with 11 skaters for a semifinal game against Espanola, The game was scoreless going into the third when Espanola scored a pretty one. A few minutes later, they added a second that I'm sure our goalie would've loved to have back.
We had a goal in the second called off because the referee thought it was deflected by a high stick.
If the game could've been scored like a boxing match, we might've won as we held the edge in play through most of the game.
And speaking of boxing, that's how the game ended. Espanola's goaltender and one of their skaters taking punches at one of our forwards while the linesmen inexplicably declined to intervene. One said something like, "If they want to fight, it's their choice."
Ah, the drama of minor hockey.

Minor hockey career almost a wrap

This is a bittersweet weekend. After 11 years in minor hockey, it's the last tournament for my older son. Wins and losses, first goals, learning to bodycheck, championships lost and championships won ... it all fades to black after this weekend in Toronto.
This season's team was a good one, but prevented from advancing to the Ontario championship because we were parked in a combined AA-A midget league. The playdowns yielded the predicable results: An excellent AA team from the London Jr. Knights organization is playing for the provincial AA title. And the AA team from Sarnia gets to play for the Ontario A title.
When I entered our team in this week's tournament, I was hoping for great things - to exit minor hockey in a blaze of glory, winning one last tournament against a field of excellent opposition.
But one by one, key players bowed out for one reason or another, from choosing golf instead to hockey fatigue after playing in a high level high school tournament to injuries or school priorities. So we're left with a short-staffed team where the kids will at least get a lot of ice time, if not a trophy.