While leagues outside of the regulation of Hockey Canada continue to grow, leagues within the Hockey Canada family are now addressing policy concerning the players within those leagues.
With three leagues operating outside of Hockey Canada this season, the CIHL, GMHL and CIJHL, the OHL is now developing policy to address how players in the Ontario based leagues are to be viewed. The CIJHL is in British Columbia and outside the scouting territory that the OHL typically operates within.
Multiple sources are now reporting to TJHN that the following policies are being put in place concerning the CIHL and GMHL;
1. No OHL Member Team representative nor any representatives of the OHL Central Scouting Bureau are permitted to scout players who are playing for teams who are Members of Leagues outside of the auspices of Hockey Canada, USA Hockey or the IIHF (“Outlaw Leagues”).
2. Players currently playing in “Outlaw Leagues” (eg. Greater Metro Junior Hockey League, Canadian International Hockey League) are ineligible for selection in the OHL Priority Selection Process.
3. Undrafted players currently playing in “Outlaw Leagues” (eg., Greater Metro Junior Hockey League, Canadian International Hockey League) who make application and who are otherwise eligible to play in the Ontario Hockey League for the 2014-15 playing season would be placed on waivers by the Ontario Hockey League and subject to claim based on current OHL Waiver Policies and Procedures.
So what does this mean?
Simply put, the OHL will not be going to scout CIHL and GMHL teams and players.
Players in those leagues who otherwise would be eligible for the OHL draft are going to have that eligibility removed.
Players will need to “make application” in order to be reinstated as being seen as in good standing in order to be placed on OHL waivers.
The OHL has every right to self regulate its scouting and player eligibility standards, as does any league including the CIHL and GMHL. Policy is put in place to reflect the standards and desires of every league.
Some will say that this is unfair, or biased. The truth is that the OHL is a member of Hockey Canada. Hockey Canada is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The CIHL, GMHL and CIJHL are not members of either.
The IIHF is the international governing body for hockey around the globe. Only one governing body per participating country is recognized by the IIHF. The IIHF sets international standards and helps regulate players transfers from country to country. A very important role is played by the IIHF when it comes to players, and league operations.
Hockey Canada and USA Hockey work together on many legislative, rules, competition and safety initiatives. They also negotiate and regulate player transfer fees between the two countries. Independent leagues do not participate in those discussions, nor do they contribute to the great expense of developing the game, rules, safety, and its legislation.
While some have said that TJHN is “picking on” these leagues, the truth is we are only reporting the facts as they are provided to us. If those facts contradict what the leagues are saying then so be it.
While there are always at least two sides to every story, and usually those sides contradict each other, the OHL policy development is its side of the story. What the other sides may say, does not effect how the OHL will handle these players and leagues in the future.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
