HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-11-18, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010.Hockey associations to potentially mergeDue to declining enrollment, skill
matching and a lack of available ice
time the Blyth and Brussels’ Minor
Hockey Associations are
contemplating merging for the 2011-
2012 season.
Public meetings to further discuss
these issues have been set for Nov.
23 in Blyth at the Blyth Community
Centre and for Nov. 25 in Brussels at
the Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre. Both meetings
will begin at 7 p.m.
The change is being brought on by
several concerns, but is primarly
being caused by the decline in
numbers of early-age players
according to Steve Howson,
Vice President of Blyth Minor
Hockey.
“We’re seeing a decline in
numbers across the board, but
especially at the younger ages,” he
said. “The Brussels numbers are
lower, but we’re running teams with
less players than we should.”
Howson indicated that the Blyth
Bantam teams were a good example.
With only 20 players trying out for
the age group, they ended up
splitting the teams into nine players
on the Rep team and 11 on the Local
League team.
Brussels Minor Hockey President
John VanVliet said that several Blyth
and Brussels teams are already
amalgamated, and they have been
successful.
“We already have two midget
teams and four girls teams together,”
he said. “The girls have been playing
together for three years, and neither
club would be able to support thatkind of play.”Howson agreed, stating that thelocal midget teams, who have
players from both areas, would not
have been as competitive as they
have been if not for the expanded
drawing base.
The two associations will present
information to the public before
having an all-members vote on Jan.
11, 2011. Each parent will have as
many votes as they have children
enrolled.
If amalgamated, the new executive
will be elected by 14 directors of the
amalgamated minor hockey
association. Seven directors will
come from each community.
One of the most important pieces
of information that will be presented
is that players will not be forced
to leave the area, regardless of
location.
“Players in our system can stay,”
Howson said. “They can leave if
they are in an area that gives them
the right of choice, but they don’t
have to leave.”
Players also will no longer have to
play for teams that their skills don’t
match up for.
“We have players leave because
they don’t want to play for the rep
team,” VanVliet said. “They don’t
feel they’re of that calibre and decide
that, if they can’t play local league,
they don’t want to play. Hopefully,
having enough players to field two
teams will stop that.”
Ice time is also as a problem, as
most Blyth teams now have to
practice in Brussels since there are
only 24 hours available for the entire
hockey association per week in
Blyth. “We just can’t get more ice timehere,” Howson said. Howson went on to say thatadditional ice time isn’t the onlybenefit, and that many smaller centres are amalgamating, like theBCH (Bayfield-Clinton-Hensall) IceDogs.
We wish to thank the Community and everyone who attended our
Centennial Celebration or sent best wishes to make this a memorable event!
Special thanks to the following who made this Celebration a success!
Ashley (Howson) Phillips - Pretty Partys
Peter Gusso - Blyth Station House Catering
Ken Whitmore - Blyth Printing
Jeroen Oosterom- Publi-Air Inflatables
Nancy Snell - NJS Design
Burke’s Tent Rentals - Tables
Luann’s Flowers & Gifts
Erin Carnochan - MP Russo & Associates
Brenda Empey - Balloon Animals
Jennifer Black - Face Painting
Brock & Janis Vodden - Historical Photos
Laurie Whitson - Family Portrait Painting
Janice Peters - The Gift Cupboard
Heather deBoer - Photography
Blyth United Church Choir
Blyth Business Association
Blyth Lions Club
Janice Marks - Decorated Cakes
Jeff Bowman - Keysa Technologies
Harv Bernard
Thank You
Saving up
Mr. Gole’s Grade 2/3 class has taken giving to a whole new level, as last week they all brought
their piggy banks in from home to donate whatever change they had saved up to Kids Giving
Water at Blyth Public School. Students brought in change, collected cans and even emptied
out their piggy banks for the cause. Kids Giving Water is an initiative undertaken by the school
to attempt to raise money for a water well in Kenya. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Denny ScottThe Citizen