Premier does want OHL with body checking
OTTAWA, Ont. — Sounds like Lisa MacLeod spoke out of turn.
A statement by Premier Doug Ford Saturday night on the return of the Ontario Hockey League “with body checking” was the opposite of what the province’s minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries said Friday.
MacLeod, a Nepean MPP, re-affirmed her position that if the OHL intended to return Feb. 4 it would do so without body checking because of the spread of COVID-19. That was after TSN Insider Darren Dreger reported Friday talks between the province and the OHL were continuing for a safe return with body checking.
Ford confirmed that report. “We are engaging with the OHL to create a safe return to play plan, which will need to be approved by health experts,” Ford wrote in a tweet. “To date, no decisions have been made. I would like to see the OHL return as normal as possible with body checking.”
That sigh of relief you heard came from OHL commissioner David Branch’s office and the rest of the board of governors.
It would be difficult for the OHL to return if there’s no body checking allowed. First of all, it’s part of the game at this level and, secondly, as former 67’s general manager and coach Brian Kilrea told Postmedia Saturday, the league would have to adapt its rulebook in order to make it work.
Andre Tourigny, the 67’s head coach and VP of hockey operations, said he’ll just follow whatever directions the province and the league give him when play resumes.
“I can’t imagine the OHL not playing so that would be even tougher,” Tourigny said Sunday from Ottawa. “The people who are in charge of it on both sides are way more competent than me. Nobody woke up this morning and thought, ‘Okay we’re going to screw these guys up’ from the league or the government.
“I don’t have the information. What’s the rationale? Where’s the danger in all of it? I’m sure they will do their due diligence; they’ll speak to people way smarter than me and they’ll arrive with a solution or protocols. That’s my expectation, that these people will protect our players, our product, our league and national sport. I’m sure everybody has the right intentions here.”
Everybody wants to make sure the game is played in a safe environment, but if there’s no ability for the participants to compete for the puck physically, that would change the game. Battles for loose pucks would be completely different and many have weighed in on the subject.
“I was happy to see a reversal of that position and it makes total sense,” said Ottawa-based lawyer Andy Scott, an agent for Octagon Hockey, who represent a lot of OHL players, Sunday. “Given the fact that you’re getting into the rules of a sport where you have players that are trying to develop into hockey players playing the right way and learn the game to get to the next level, you need to have body contact to properly prepare.”
Playing without contact would complicate the fact the OHL is hosting the Memorial Cup tournament next spring in either Oshawa or Sault Ste. Marie. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has resumed with physical contact and the expectation is, when the Western Hockey League returns, it will do the same.
“With minor hockey, you can understand them wanting to do a few little rule changes to just get some players back on the ice,” Scott added. “But, the OHL is a significant development league to the pros. You want to be able to teach players coming into the league to play the right way.
“You could envision situations where players are learning bad habits (without contact) and having their head down and going into areas knowing full well that they’re not going to be touched. The second that rule goes back into effect, you’re going to have a significant adjustment, especially some of the younger players in the league and that’s my concern.”
Tourigny believes you have to roll with whatever decision is made. He was disappointed in April when the season was cancelled and the 67’s didn’t have a shot at the playoffs, however, he understood it was the right move.
“I have no reason not to trust them,” Tourigny said. “I don’t know what it’s all about because it’s not my expertise but I’m sure if I sat with a doctor and started to talk about the forecheck, the (defensive) zone and the position of F3 I would lose that person pretty quickly. For COVID19, it’s the other way around, I have to trust them but I’m sure we’re in good hands.”