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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-08-19, Page 6CLINTON MINOR HOCKEY FEMALE HOCKEY REGISTRATION Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 - 9:00 pm Wednesday, Sept. 16 6:30 - 9:00 pm and Saturday, Sept. 19 10 am - 1 pm Ages 6 -10 Cost $200 (includes draw tickets) Ages 11 - 19 Cost $300 (includes draw tickets) HOUSE LEAGUE & TOURNAMENT TEAMS WILL BE AVAILABLE To all girls who are interested in playing House League Hockey as Novice (6-10) Junior (11-13) or Senior (14 and up) come to Clinton, and register for our House League team and help form the nucleus of the Tournament Teams. Late"registratiolf will have to hairet-xecutIve•aNr6val If you are not registered on time, you may not be playing There will be an extra tee of $25 if _approval is POWER SKATING WILL BE AVAILABLE $125 (All Season) For more information - Gary Walden 482-7675 or Bob Hart 482-5441 By Hugh Nichol Until the mid-1890s organized hockey was focused in eastern Canada but with the introduction of the railway and increased growth of industry the popularity of the game began to expand westward. New teams, leagues and divisions created a competitive market and it was not uncommon for early-1900 amateur clubs to offer players token fees which they recovered through gate receipts. However as more leagues declared themselves "professional" the demand for audiences and skilled players became wide open. Small town teams began offering higher salaries to compete with the big city (in 1909 Cyclone Taylor signed a 12-game, $5,250 contract with Renfrew) and in order to fund these recruitments local business- men were invited to sponsor and eventually own the team. These industrialists, schooled in the financial world of manufactur- ing, distribution, and retailing quickly turned their new holdings into a profit-and-loss statement. Over time the strong became stronger while small town operators declined in numbers, collapsing under the economical conditions imposed by the big spenders. In 1926 the last of the rival leagues officially folded and the National Hockey League became hockey's single major league, and monopoly they would enjoy for the next 45 years. The owners were quick to realize that with no competition they immediately gained greater influ- ence over the labour market and could now easily maximize their profits. Wages became meagre, benefits non-existent. Contracts were negotiated in training camp where the team made an offer that you accepted with little or no discussion. In order to keep the competition in the system alive amateur players were signed to a C-form, a clOcument that bound a player to a specific team when he turned professional. These players were then placed on junior teams under the sponsorship of the parent club and literally became slaves of the National Hockey League. While we wonder how the system survived, most oldtimers will tell you the love of the game and the inability to imagine another way of life meant they couldn't simply walk away, not an unfounded statement for even today many a kid's dream is to play in the National Hockey League. This philosophy unfortunately only strengthened the owners' control, for insecurity was the main reason players succeeded. Anyone who 'failed expectations or questioned the operations of the owners was quickly traded or in the words of one manager "demoted so far in the minors even The Hockey News could not find you." In the end it was the owners greed that led to their downfall. With the popularity of hockey growing in the United States the lure of larger American television markets influenced the awarding of more franchises. In 1967 the league doubled in size to accommodate greater television revenues but it also created more jobs. Older players drafted by the new clubs had bargaining power for the first time in 40 years. Hockey was becoming an investment sport and when the league took its time is admitting more teams the World Hockey Association was organized and immediately began signing NHL stars to bigger and longer term contracts. The increased competition allowed a players' association, formed in 1966 under the guidance of lawyer Allan Eagleson, to force the NHL into collective bargaining agreements where restructuring of salaries, revenue sharing, pension provisions and free agency became key issues in every session. It was the labour turmoil involved in negotiating these contracts that led to a 10-day players' strike in April 1992 and a 103-day lock out by the owners at the beginning of the 1994 season. The power of the union in any sports is what allows a goaltender like Curtis Joseph, who has never won a championship or a Vezina Trophy, or even been selected to the all-star team, to sign a four year, $24 million (U.S.) contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It allows Michael Jordan to dictate who coaches the Chicago Bulls and Boston Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughan to reject a four-year, $37 million contract. It forces the MBA owners to impose a still-ongoing player lockout and led to the cancel- lation of the 1994 world series. And yes while individuals agree that unions were, and still are, a necessity in today's industrialized world, there are many who worry that the same organizations that rescued us from poverty in the early years may eventually send us back in the future. If only the ordinary fan would come to the conclusion they too are a union and indirectly may have more power and control than either athlete and owner. It was a wild contest when the Hullett Midgets welcomed Listow- el to town, Aug. 12. The three-hour match-up started with a bang as Listowel racked up 30 runs in the top two while Hullett rallied for 18. Slowed in the final three innings, Listowel added one in the third, PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1998. p or t s From the sidelines Pro hockey has come a long way from days of poverty Getting ready for the season Approximately 60 young men from across the region, including more than a dozen from Brussels, took to the ice in Seaforth this past weekend as the Brussels Bulls began training camp. With an all-new executive and renewed enthusiasm, team organizers are looking forward to a great season. Brussels Bulls open training camp The Brussels Bulls are very pleased with the turnout in week one of training camp. Saturday had the hockey season swing into full gear for the Brussels Bulls as they opened training camp in Seaforth. Players from all over the area strapped their skates on trying to show their skills to Bulls' coaches. Some familiar faces some new, skated Saturday and Sunday in Seaforth. This year's Bulls team will be quick and hard-hitting, working for 60 minutes in every game. This weekend the Bulls will be in Listowel for a 2:30 Saturday practice. The Bulls have affiliated with the Listowel Jr. B hockey club, so players have the opportunity to play some games at the Jr. B. level. Blyth Mites romp over Holmesville It was a romp for the Blyth Mite boys when they travelled to Holmesville Aug. 6. They jumped out quickly, hitting for seven runs highlighted by a double by Blake Hesselwood, triple by Eric Caldwell and single from Darcey Cook. Jeff Elliott, Josh Albrechtas, Ben Caldwell, Adam deBoer and Nicholas Dale walked. Elliott also tapped a single. Eric Caldwell started of the sec- ond with a single before a homer from Albrechtas. Cook tripled, deBoer, Dale and Justin Rinn walked, followed by singles from Hesselwood, Elliott and Eric Caldwell. Leading 14-2 after two, Blyth added eight in the third off walks. They earned a 22-4 victory. four in the fourth and were shut down in the fifth. Hullett mounted a comeback with five in the third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth, but fell short, 35-27. The first in a best-of-three series, the winners will move to the A cir- cuit while the losers play on the B side. Creatine, protein powders, carb. drinks, sports bars and more! T'WIN LAB' Introductory Price DO YOU...... Weightlift, Exercise, Play Sports„„? ',ufurol .`3,,wrre, •. jVERYTHIN G 4 z---7worth of sports supplemens. (while quantities last) 222 Josephine St. Wingham 357-3466 Win 15 % off sioo We now have... Hallett Midgets lose wild game to Listowel, 35-27