Potential overhaul pending for AAA hockey in Sudbury

Well, it’s been another very intriguing and exciting couple of weeks in the world of minor hockey, but aren’t they all?

Upon further review, it struck me that the period in question represented both the good and potentially bad of Canada’s favourite winter pastime.

A week ago Monday, I had the opportunity to serve as moderator/facilitator of a meeting convened to discuss the current status of AAA hockey in Greater Sudbury. Somewhere between 75 to 100 interested individuals attended the discussion at the Garson Arena — a forum organized by parents of players currently playing AAA hockey in the area.

The basic concept was to provide a venue to allow Sudbury Minor Hockey (SMHA) officials to discuss the ongoing developments within the local AAA hockey community, including the decision by the SMHA Board of Directors not to support an amalgamation proposal that was tabled last year.

By way of very basic background, it should be noted that Greater Sudbury currently houses two separate and very distinct groups managing AAA hockey in the area — the SMHA and the Nickel City Sons. Meanwhile, a strong contingent of minor hockey supporters firmly believe that a single streamed system (one organization only handling AAA hockey) would provide for a better framework in developing local hockey talent.

No great surprise that the meeting did not provide any substantive outcome, although a great deal of discussion covered areas ranging from the main topic at hand to several tangents; some worthwhile, others, not so much.

While arguments were mounted, detailing how exactly we came to be at this point, little was said about the efforts that could be made to obtain the result that most of the those in attendance seemed interested in achieving — a singular umbrella structure in which all AAA hockey in Greater Sudbury, from minor peewee through to the midget ranks, could be housed.

In fairness to both sides — the SMHA and the Sons — there are some obstacles that must be overcome. No one is suggesting in the least that amalgamating AAA hockey into a singular stream that allows for just one local representative at each level of the rung would miraculously cure all that ails minor hockey.

However, there is little doubt of the frustration that exists from those on the outside looking in. This only stands to reason. Consider the following: assuming all of the historical background of the development of hockey in the area could be instantly erased, is there anyone who truly believes, even if the great minds of minor hockey dictated two systems were needed in Greater Sudbury, that the geographical breakdown would stand as it currently exists? That someone, entrusted with splitting the region into two distinct hockey organisms, would somehow come to the conclusion that taking a pocket of population within the inner circle of Sudbury as one association, and everything on the outside as a separate district, makes any sense at all?

And yet, that is the status quo. A system that, as it exists today, sees an “accordion” flow of AAA talent through a single minor peewee team, on to a pair of major peewee teams, back to a single minor bantam team, on to a pair of major bantam teams, and capped off with two midget squads.

Not a particularly efficient framework by almost anyone’s definition. But like most in attendance, I cling to the hope that some talk is better than no talk at all. And just about everyone, it seems, agrees with the general concept being advanced. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn’t get shot down for all the wrong reasons.

While the political machination that is minor hockey was clearly in overdrive that Monday evening, Tuesday afternoon provided a much more pure vision of what the sport can be.

Denis Castonguay knows a thing or two about scoring. The only NOJHL player ever to surpass the 200-point plateau in a single season and a Laurentian Voyageur alumni who remains among the OUA all-time career-leading scorers, Castonguay was most well-known for his unbelievably deft touch with the puck when scoring opportunities arose.

Now teaching at École Ste. Marie in Azilda, Castonguay found himself behind the bench of the school’s intermediate (Grades 7/8) hockey team, competing in the first annual Macdonald-Cartier tournament in Capreol.

Battling Felix Ricard in the A final, both the Jaguars and Lions showcased outstanding goaltending talents in the form of Brayden Lachance and Scott Vaillancourt. And when a shootout ensued, AAA hockey sniper Joel Lemay dazzled the crowd with a nifty move in tight.

But with the game on the line and one goal needed for victory, Castonguay once again demonstrated his acumen in spotting a natural scoring touch. He turned to Sebastien Dugas-Ruest, who worked his way stick-handling with a most unorthodox skating style, before calmly tucking a backhand in the net for the tournament-winning marker.

No great feat, if not for the fact that Dugas-Ruest has never played a day of organized hockey in his life. A fairly gifted natural athlete who admits to remaining quite fond of ball hockey, the soft spoken Grade 8 student suggested that his recent success might lead him to reconsider lacing up the skates more regularly.

There is something to be said for the magic of hockey, once all the talking is done.

Randy Pascal is the voice of Eastlink Sports and the founder of SudburySports.com.