Votes to be cast on possible merger of local AAA hockey

 It’s a vote that could drastically change the landscape of minor hockey in Greater Sudbury, and it’s only days away.

Within the next week or so, the board of directors of the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) will be asked to formally place their blessings on a proposed model regarding the restructuring of AAA hockey in the area.
In a nutshell, the new format would amalgamate the existing AAA hockey organizations of both the SMHA and the Nickel City Sons — a group which represents the outlying areas beyond the city of Sudbury proper.

The Sons’ board approved the concept back in the spring, with the SMHA opting to defer a vote to allow for a period of greater study of the effects and impacts of the framework that was being presented.

Derek Erickson (SMHA) and Bob Allen (Nickel City Sons) were both members of an ad hoc committee that was formed in February of 2009, starting the process of discussion that would be critical to any changes that might be forthcoming.

Both were more than happy to sit down over coffee recently and share their views of some of the challenges, the positives, and the current state of affairs of AAA hockey in Sudbury. But first, a little background for those who don’t live this world on a daily basis.

The highest level of minor hockey that is played in Ontario and throughout the country, AAA teams were first introduced to the Sudbury area back in the 1970s, at a time when the number of teams competing in rep hockey within the SMHA easily rivaled the total number of teams that competed in the Nickel District Minor Hockey League (NDMHL).

Over the years, both groups have had to deal with dwindling numbers and eventually, the two sides came together to offer A and AA hockey, all under the auspices of the NDMHL. At the same time, the AAA system remained under the umbrella of the SMHA, fully open to all kids in the area from Levack to Coniston.

In time, midget AAA teams formed in Rayside-Balfour and Valley East, the bantam AAA loop expanded to include Onaping Falls and, much more recently, the Nickel City Sons organization was created, opening the door for a second AAA team at the major peewee level.

In February of 2009, a group of interested parties from both the Nickel City and Sudbury organizations, sat down to determine if common ground existed on moving a concept forward that would essentially see a merger of AAA hockey at a local level.

To the surprise of many, those talks proved extremely fruitful.

“This was the first time, in all my years of hockey, that we sat down and had people agree right from the outset without arguments,” noted Allen, with tongue only slightly planted in cheek.

Three or four subsequent meetings ensued, and by the time that the annual meeting of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association arrived in May, the board of the Nickel City Sons had formalized its approval of the proposed model.

Not quite so fast for the folks with the SMHA. Erickson, a member of the board, pointed out that this was not necessarily due to any kind of objection to the general concept that was being presented.

“I think slowing the bus down just a little involved more tending to some housekeeping issues, things like governance, identity, ice allocation and how we impact our partners in the NOHA.

“Around the board table, I haven’t heard a lot of negativity – more, let’s just make sure we do the due diligence,” explained Erickson. At the very foundation of the ongoing discussions was a prevailing thought that the status-quo simply was not acceptable moving forward.

On that topic, both sides whole-heartedly agreed. “It’s not a really good developmental model for our kids if we want to be competitive provincially,” said Erickson.

“If the idea of the program is to provide for all young hockey players an equal opportunity, allowing them to play at a level they should be playing at, then I can’t see having multiple AAA teams,” noted Allen.

“If we streamline the teams and realize down the road that there is actually room for two teams (at a particular age grouping), there is absolutely no problem bringing a second team back,” he added

With several decades of minor hockey volunteerism between them, Allen and Erickson (and other committee members) are acutely aware that any changes that are implemented must be made within the context of recognizing the rich history and efforts of those who came before them.

“There have been a lot of people who have done a lot of good work over the years, and we don’t want to discount the work that’s been done,” said Erickson. “But you look at all sports, not just hockey, and we just don’t have the numbers … we can’t be all things to all people.

“We, in Greater Sudbury, have a lot of hockey talent. We just don’t have a developmental funnel for that talent right now.”

Neither men, nor their co-horts in this venture, underestimate the challenges that still lie ahead. Yet, to a person, they are encouraged by what they see.

“A year ago, I never thought this would happen, to tell you the truth,” laughed Allen.

And with a vote only days away, that alone provides reason for optimism.

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