In a surprising move, Maritime Junior Hockey League President Derryl Smith has stepped down. Smith, in the middle of his seventh season as MHL president, is said to be battling health issues.
In a media release the league had the following to say;
“We wish Derryl all the best for a speedy recovery,” said Graham Baxter, Valley Wildcats governor and co-chairman of the league’s board of governors. “He will be missed by all of us at the (executive) table.
“It was a pleasure working with him over the last couple of years.”
During Smith’s tenure as league president he helped oversee such undertakings as the league’s rebranding in 2010; the expansion of the MHL to 12 teams; the adoption of the Junior A Supplement in an effort to eliminate violence and bullying at the junior A level, as well as numerous other major events and tournaments.
“Derryl put in a lot of hard work and always had the best interest of the league at heart,” Baxter added.
Dave Ritcey, who has been a league vice-president since 2009, takes over the duties of president effective immediately on an interim basis.
