Hespeler parents crying foul over Hockey Canada rules
Three players and one coach are ousted for the remainder of the season
CAMBRIDGE — Christina and Anthony Casamento are picking up the pieces of their seven-yearold son’s Hespeler house league hockey season after it was shattered by Hockey Canada rule 6.22.
The rule sanctions an “individual” who “participates (knowingly or otherwise) in ‘outlaw’ programs after Sept. 30 of the season in question (the cut-off date) will lose all membership privileges with Hockey Canada for the remainder of that season.”
Participation constitutes taking part “in one game (including an exhibition, tournament, league or playoff game) after the cut-off date.”
Last Thursday, the Casamentos received an email from the Hespeler Minor Hockey Association (HMHA) stating their son Christian participated in a nonsanctioned league at the Hockey Loft on Jan. 7, and as of Jan. 10 would “no longer be afforded the opportunity to associate with any Hockey Canada programming for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
“Christian can no longer be on the ice or join any team function for, or with, the HMHA.”
The email went on to state the decision was final and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) — Hespeler’s umbrella organization — the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hespeler minor hockey considered “the matter closed.”
Requests to the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) for an interview weren’t returned by deadline. Christian wasn’t the only house league player affected, as six-year-old Maeve Walsh and another unnamed player also received emails of dismissal, and Hespeler novice A coach Chris Walsh was ousted for the remainder of the season, as well, for signing Maeve up for the Hockey Loft program. Hespeler minor hockey wouldn’t confirm if the four had received sanctions.
Christina, however, contends her son was never signed up for the “outlaw” league at the Hockey Loft, which runs the Ontario Rep Hockey League’s Tri-City Titans, and was enrolled in a skills and development camp. Besides working on basic hockey skills, kids participated in scrimmages, though there were no official referees, no coaches, no team names and no game sheet. Players were separated on the ice as in any game of shinny, she contends. That may be her out for an appeal to the OMHA, which she found out was possible, despite the Hespeler minor hockey email.
“Maybe a couple of weeks ago all they did really in their private (session), they were splitting up the kids and having gamelike situations,” Christina said.
“The only person that’s on the ice is Adam, who works at the Hockey Loft. He’s one of the trainers there; he would be on the ice with them.”
In a statement to the Times, HMHA president John Murray said Hespeler minor hockey is “mandated” to follow the Hockey Canada’s on- and off-ice policies.
“It is important to understand that instances of this nature must be reported to both provincial and national partners, OMHA, OHF and Hockey Canada, of which HMHA’s entire association programming is offered,” according to the statement.
It went on to state there is an appeal process through Hockey Canada where the people affected could apply for reinstatement. Part of the reinstatement consideration is ceasing all participation in the nonsanctioned league and managing to “acquire support” for reinstatement from their sanctioned league.
“Given the nature of the circumstances surrounding the persons recently affected, HMHA will support those who choose to initiate this appeal process with Hockey Canada and will welcome back those who are successful in their appeal,” it read.
Christina isn’t convinced one way or the other what to do, though they are considering an appeal.
“I think that would be the right thing to do. I mean, at the same time, we are trying to wrap our head around, like, we have to go through an appeal for a sevenyear-old to play hockey? It seems kind of absurd,” she said, saying Christian will keep attending his skills and develop camp for now.
“We’re not going to stop him from participating in hockey, but we had no thoughts about going to the Ontario Rep Hockey League.
“I mean, I don’t know what our options are next year. Like they say, it’s just for the season, so we have the option to go back, but I mean with everything that’s happened, why would I want to go back to the same league?”
Walsh is also considering his options on reinstatement as the coach of the novice A Shamrocks. Much like the players, Walsh received an email on Jan. 10 informing him HMHA relinquished his privilege to be rostered, keeping him off the bench and away from practices and league functions. He said he’s not quite sure if he’s going to file an appeal for himself or his daughter. Walsh also saw HMHA’s statement and believes someone reacted too soon in their original email about noting the decision was final, and the association is now backpedalling.
“Like, I’m just kind of looking at this now because we were in a tournament all weekend with my son’s team. So it’s, I just have to kind of weigh my options here and see everything has an associated fee, but I know Hockey Canada, to appeal, I just got an email from someone that it’s a $200 fee, or OMHA is a $300 fee, the OHF is a $400 fee, just to appeal. And this is trying to get more volunteers into the system?”
While both the Casamentos and Walsh believe it ludicrous to put such sanctions on house league players, age seven and under, looking for further development, they agreed families should have been warned by the Hespeler association prior to the season about the rule.
“I had no clue that it exists. If I was aware of it and I knew it would kind of put me in jeopardy of coaching my son, of course we would have not done it,” Walsh said, adding he was speaking out to be a voice for the kids even if it hurt his future of being a hockey coach.
While Christina is upset that someone sought out the players at the Cambridge Centre to report them, she said there should at least be a warning given instead of kicking out youngsters on the spot.