Herder shelved
HNL won’t cover potential losses, so senior leagues decide not to compete
There will be no competition for the Herder Memorial Trophy this year. The Telegram has learned the Central-West and Avalon East senior hockey leagues were concerned with potential costs that could come with playing for the Herder, first competed for in 1935. As a result, both leagues requested that Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL) cover any possible losses teams competing in the Herder could incur. However, HNL has said no to that proposal. The two league champions — which have yet to be decided — were originally set to play for the Herder, but for the first time since 1991 the trophy will not be awarded.
Regardless of how much money it has in the bank, the affluent sports governing body that is Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador isn’t prepared to cover any losses this year’s provincial senior hockey final might incur, which means competition for the Herder Memorial Trophy will be shelved for 2015.
The Telegram has learned the Central-West Senior Hockey League and the Avalon East Hockey League, which operates in the metro St. John’s area, were concerned with potential costs that could come about with playing for the prestigious Herder, first competed for in 1935.
The champions of the Central-West circuit — a semi-pro operation which permits the use of import players — and the Avalon East league were originally set to play for the Herder.
However, each of the four teams in the Central-West league are already spending big dollars — in addition to paycheques written, imports are flown in and out of Newfoundland — and the Corner Brook Royals, Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts, Gander Flyers or Clarenville Caribous did not produce many, if any, home-ice sellouts this season.
The idea of picking up the travel tab again for Herder play was not an enticing one for the Central-West league.
As for the East league, it’s strictly an amateur pay-as-you-play outfit, with little or no money available for travel to either Grand Falls-Windsor or Corner Brook, depending on which team wins the Central-West title.
As a result, both leagues requested that HNL cover any possible losses teams competing in the Herder could incur.
And despite its bank balance hitting $750,000 — according to financial statements uncovered by The Telegram earlier this month — Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador rebuffed that idea.
HNL lost $1,816 on the Herder last year when expenses ($14,159) were greater than revenue ($12,343). In 2009, HNL pocketed $10,928 from Herder play.
The Telegram has learned the Avalon East league has released dates it had booked for the Herder at Mile One Centre, and there is some talk amongst insiders the Herder could be given to the winner of the Central-West final.
The league final between the Royals and Cataracts gets underway Saturday night in Corner Brook.
No-one from Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador was available for comment, or to confirm if the Herder family, which donated the trophy in honour of seven Herder brothers, has received notification.
This year will mark the first time since 1991 the Herder Memorial Trophy will not be awarded. There was also no presentation in 1942 and 1943 because of the Second World War.