Mount won’t play in local leagues
Mount Academy unsuccessful in bid to get included in local leagues’ regular season during pandemic
Kenny MacDougall was hoping for a different response.
The school's headmaster and athletic director at The Mount Academy approached three local hockey leagues to see if they would allow the Saints to play games there this year. He started the process with Hockey P.E.I. early in the summer with the uncertainty created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“In a normal year, we’d be able to travel outside of the (Atlantic) bubble, but, due to COVID-19, we’re not able to do that,” MacDougall said. “There’s two things we always try to do here: work in the spirit of co-operation and make decisions in the best interest of kids. We just haven’t been able to get that same level of co-operation or interest from the leagues in our region.”
But there is some positive news.
Some teams have agreed to play exhibition games against The Mount teams, but they need to work them in around their league games. The Mount wasn’t looking for the Saints to be included in the various leagues' playoffs or even in the standings as they have players from outside of the province/region – just a chance to play scheduled games close to home this season.
Barry Thompson, president of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Under-18 AAA Hockey League, said it was a league decision not to include them in its schedule.
“It comes down the organizations that run those teams, and they have to have the final say,” he said of its membership. “I think one of the biggest factors that they looked at is they are working out of their own zones … where they draw their kids (from).”
Meanwhile the private schools can draw players from anywhere.
“As an exhibition type of series, they’re more than welcome to go to the teams,” Thompson said.
And some of those games have already taken place. Thompson would like to see this as an opportunity to build relationships between the private schools and local teams.
The Mount, now in its fourth season, offers an under-18 girls team and boys teams at under-15, -17 and -18. They normally play most of their games in Quebec, Ontario and the United States.
Carly Thompson, who is in her third season with the Saints, said it’s disappointing not to have a league to play in this season.
“Everybody looks forward to the playoffs and trying to win, but we’re trying to make the most of it, so we’re on the ice every day of the week and we’re playing intrasquad games,” the 17-year-old girls’ team captain said after a practice earlier this week.
The team had just returned from Ontario in March and
was playing in a showcase event in Charlottetown when things came to an abrupt halt due to the pandemic. She said they feel fortunate to be playing right now but would have liked to see the local leagues allow them to join them in some capacity this season.
“Everybody just wants to play,” said Thompson, who grew up playing through the North River Minor Hockey Association. “At the beginning, everyone was kind of like, ‘Why? We’re all just trying to play hockey.' Once it kind of settled in and we realized (their decision), we were just trying to make the most out of what we can do.”
Friction has existed between sports academies and community-based teams for years.
“People use the word stealing players, which is inaccurate. We’re providing options,” MacDougall said.
He said it gives families the chance to provide a private education to their children while playing hockey, getting a chance to travel and increased exposure outside of the region.
“Given all that the kids have lost in the last seven months, whether it be schooling or hockey or showcase opportunities, we’re just looking for co-operation to do what’s in the best interest of kids,” MacDougall said. “I was a little bit surprised that other people didn't share that same viewpoint.”
Despite the limited schedule, none of the Island residents who play for The Mount have left the program to join one of the P.E.I. league squads.
“I think that speaks to the quality of our education and the quality of our programming,” MacDougall said. “We’re just doing extra ice times, scrimmages in house and doing everything creative we can to give the kids a quality experience.”
The situation has also seen the relationship grow with two other private schools in Atlantic Canada: King’s Edgehill in Windsor, N.S., and Rothesay Netherwood School in Rothesay, N.B. However, The Mount is the only private school with an under-15 boys’ team in Atlantic Canada.
P.E.I. has four under-15 boys teams in its league and three in its under-18 girls league.