The Death Pool – Special Report – CCHL Midget AAA Players Denied Entry To OHL Cup Championship?

Here we go kids.  Its Tuesday morning when you read this, but I have been all over this story for the last few weeks.  I say “story” and ask you to take that with a grain of salt, because its more like complete bullshit than a “story”.

So, everyone knows TJHN has been a big supporter behind the Central Canadian Hockey League absorbing the EOJHL to become the CCHL2, and we have been just as big a supporter of them absorbing Midget AAA hockey in the area as well.

Why?  Well a multitude of reasons, but primarily, this “one system” under one streamlined development model has been proven to work.  Proven in the United States by the NAHL having the NA3HL and NAPHL in its development model.  Cant really argue with the numbers of players moving through the development ladder to NCAA scholarships.

But hey, Canada is a different country right.  I mean, its the end all and be all of hockey isn’t it?

Well it turns out, the CCHL midget players are being denied entry into the OHL Cup.  For those not aware, the OHL Cup is the Midget AAA Stanley Cup in Ontario.

Well they aren’t being completely denied.  Because one team in the Hockey Eastern Ontario AAA League has already been named to represent the league at the OHL Cup.  Yep, never mind the fact that they lose regularly to the CCHL Midget teams.  Never mind the fact that they haven’t even won the league this year.

So why are these teams being denied the opportunity to play?

Pretty simple.  Stupid politics.

See, some people don’t like what the CCHL has done.  You know, they don’t like continued development at age specific levels.  You know, like some junior B teams are pissed because they didn’t get the younger players they would have gotten in the past this year.  You know, like the old cronies who fart cobwebs are still trying to cram old development thoughts down the throats of people who don’t agree with them.

See the numbers break down like this;

Last year there were 37 HEO 16 year olds playing Jr B.  This year there are 7.  That’s 30 more kids playing Midget that should be playing Midget and not junior B.  But you know who doesn’t like that?  The junior B guys who are politically connected to the higher up decision makers.

30 players who played Minor Midget AAA last year remain in the midget program this year instead of moving on to junior hockey when they wouldn’t receive the ice time in junior like they do in Midget.

So, because more kids chose to play Midget the CCHL teams don’t get to send a select team to the OHL Cup.  Does that sound right to you?

Since when do parents and players lose the right to play midget because someone else says they shouldn’t?  Since when is it alright to penalize players for exercising choice?

Adults acting like children, when the children are actually acting like adults.  Who ever is behind this political road block should be fired.  The OHL should be embarrassed.  Even though it wont happen, it would be awesome to see teams and scouts boycott the whole event and give a big middle finger to the idiots in charge of this travesty.

But hey, its all about the kids right?  Its all about development right?  Its all about exposure right?

Oh yeah, I wonder if there is any crossover with this group and the group of people who are trying to eliminate import players from the GTHL?  Nahhhhhhh that couldn’t be.  I mean, what are the odds that two colossally bad ideas coming out of one province could be related to some of the same people?

You know, I have seen some stupid stuff over the last few years, but this one is right up there near the top when measuring heights of stupidity.  Congratulations guys, you have once again proven why it is time for a change in leadership throughout nearly every level of amateur hockey.