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WOODSTOCK RENEGADES *
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WOODSTOCK RENEGADES *______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS ITEM
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
OHA Proposed Realignment of Junior C & D
Tomorrow's Game might arrive as soon as next year.
Reacting to what the Ontario Hockey Association says is "a lot of support" for change within its membership, four
proposals are being floated about how best to merge Junior C and D (Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League),
possibly by next season.
It would mark the first step in the OHA's ambitious long-term restructuring plan, dubbed Tomorrow's Game.
The final landscape will take several years to determine, but it's clear the OHA wants to start its house cleaning
from the bottom by merging the two lowest classifications.
"I sense there is a lot of support to (merge) for next year, all things being equal," Junior C chair John Kastner
said. "There are some issues but there is a will to get those resolved."
The OHA recently sent a five-question survey to its Junior C and D teams, mostly gauging their support of a
merger and its potential effects.
Reaction from teams in both leagues was mainly negative.
"I don't know what the goal is by the OHA to eliminate or combine two leagues," Tavistock Braves general
manager Paul Brenneman said. "From a standpoint of hockey calibre, I don't feel we'll step in and say we can't
compete. I'm not afraid of that. (But) there's definitely a lot of Junior C teams in the area. You could water down
a lot of teams."
Proposal No. 1 would be the most detrimental to the SOJHL Braves, who would join the Western Junior C
league and travel to centres from Wingham to Walkerton.
Brenneman said proposal No. 3 would best suit the Braves, who would compete against nine other Junior D
centres plus the Niagara Junior C West division.
"It would be beneficial for a lot of us," he said. "It would create some huge rivalries, I guess. Are the other teams
going to buy in? I have no idea. There are a lot of unknowns, that's for sure."
Perhaps the most controversial unknown involves player boundaries.
With multiple teams already drawing from the same pool, there would be little to distinguish from between teams.
"I talked to (OHA president) Brent Ladds at length about this," Simcoe Storm general manager Darren
Dedobbelaer said. "Delhi and Burford draw from Norfolk, Haldimand, Brant and Oxford Country. Simcoe draws
from Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant. Port Stanley draws all of Middlesex County, which includes the City of
London. They're going to have to redo all of the drawing areas. How am I supposed to compete against that?
"I usually have at least one kid from Dover, one kid from Brantford. In theory, it's not a bad idea, but is it going to
work? I talked to Port Dover and Delhi about this, and I don't think we can have three Junior C teams going in
Norfolk County."
Delhi general manager Ron Lazou agreed.
"Personally I like the league the way it is," he said. "Right now, we don't have to compete against Simcoe or
Norwich."
Costs have also been factored into any proposal.
Kastner said the administration fee difference between Junior C and D teams is "literally hundreds of dollars."
The cost of doing business in each league, however, depends on the team.
"There's no way a team that spends $75,000 can compete with a team that spends $150,000 to $200,000,"
Lazou said.
For travel reasons, Lazou said he would support the first proposal. In that scenario, SOJHL teams Delhi,
Thamesford, Burford and Port Stanley would merge with the Niagara West Junior C division.
He also supported number three -- just not for next season.
"I can't see it being next year," he said. "There would be too many things that need to happen."
Woodstock Renegades owner and general manager Bill McLeod said the proposals make sense from a
business standpoint but he questioned the competitiveness of the smaller centres in a homogenized league.
"How will some of the teams compete?" he asked, listing attendance and budget discrepancies as two of the
factors. "It makes that a little tough.
"In the long run it will make some teams fold because they can't compete."
The Port Dover Sailors have already waved the white flag if any proposal is passed.
"I don't think Port Dover would be able to field a team," president Al Reu said. "There's not enough players
around this area of that calibre to have a team. It would cost a lot more in funding, and there's just not enough
players to go around.
"We just couldn't compete with anyone in Junior C as it stands now."
Of the proposals, McLeod liked the third, which would keep the Renegades in the same division. He said any
merger at the Junior C and D level would provide a blueprint for future changes in Tomorrow's Game.
"It's a good way to monitor how it will happen and maybe it won't work," he said. "Maybe some 'C' teams will
move up."
Burford Bulldogs' president Tim Malcolm acknowledged the eventual changes, but hoped they wouldn't be
pushed through.
"Basically everything is up in the air," he said. "Things have to change in the future but not necessarily this year.
"I think they're jumping the gun this year."
Malcolm suggested staying put for a season while the OHA and its teams combine ideas and come up with an
agreeable solution.
In fact, that scenario has been discussed by the OHA, Kastner said, before adding it's "less likely" to happen.
The surveys are expected to be submitted to the OHA by April 6 and put before the board during a meeting later
this month.
The Norwich Merchants sent theirs back letting the OHA know they wanted the proposals to come into effect in
2036.
"We're totally against any of the proposals," Merchants president Randy Nobbs said. "They're trying to stick
more 'D' teams into 'C', which has the most teams in any league. It's taken us 22 years to get out of this league
and if they add more teams, when will it happen again? Where will all the hockey players come from?"------------------
PROPOSAL 1
The Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario, Central Ontario, and Empire Leagues remain unchanged.
Western Jr. C League - 11
Goderich Sailors (Jr. C)
Hanover Barons (Jr. C)
Kincardine Bulldogs (Jr. C)
Mitchell Hawks (Jr. C)
Mount Forest Patriots (Jr. C)
Walkerton Hawks (Jr. C)
Wingham Ironmen (Jr. C)
Exeter Hawks (Jr. D)
Lucan Irish (Jr. D)
Tavistock Braves (Jr. D)
Wellesley Applejacks (Jr. D)
NOTE: This league would keep its original seven teams. 4 additional teams from the SOJHL (Jr. D) league
would be added.
Niagara East Jr. C League - 10
Caledonia Corvairs (Jr. C)
Chippawa River Hawks (Jr. C)
Dundas Blue (Jr. C)
Dunnville Terriers (Jr. C)
Glanbrook Rangers (Jr. C)
Grimsby Peach Kings (Jr. C)
Hagersville Hawks (Jr. D)
Port Dover Sailors (Jr. D)
Ayr Centennials (Jr.D)
St. George Dukes (Jr. D)
NOTE: This league would keep its original six teams. 4 additional teams from the SOJHL (Jr. D) league would
be added.
Niagara West Jr. C League -10
Aylmer Spitfires (Jr.C)
New Hamburg Firebirds (Jr.C)
Norwich Merchants (Jr.C)
Paris Mounties (Jr.C)
Simcoe Storm (Jr.C)
Woodstock Renegades (Jr.C)
Thamesford Trojans (Jr.D)
Delhi Travelers (Jr.D)
Burford Bulldogs (Jr.D)
Port Stanley Lakers (Jr.D)
NOTE: This league would keep its original six teams. 4 additional teams from the SOJHL (Jr. D) league would
be added.
Great Lakes Jr. C League -12
Alvinston Flyers (Jr. C)
Belle River Canadiens (Jr. C)
Blenheim Blades (Jr. C)
Dresden Kings (Jr. C)
Essex 73’s (Jr. C)
Kingsville Comets (Jr. C)
Mooretown Flags (Jr. C)
Wheatley Sharks (Jr. C)
Wallaceburg Lakers (Jr. C)
Mount Brydges Bulldogs (Jr. D)
Lambeth Lancers (Jr. D)
North Middlesex Stars (Jr. D)
NOTE: This league would keep its original nine teams. 3 additional teams from the SOJHL (Jr. D) league would
be added.PROPOSAL 2
The Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario, Central Ontario, and Empire Leagues remain unchanged.
Possible New League – 10 teams
Lambeth Lancers (Jr. D)
Exeter Hawks (Jr. D)
Mount Brydges Bulldogs (Jr. D)
North Middlesex Stars (Jr. D)
Thamesford Trojans (Jr. D)
Tavistock Braves (Jr. D)
Wellesley Applejacks (Jr. D)
Lucan Irish (Jr. D)
Alvinston Flyers (Jr. C)
Mitchell Hawks (Jr. C)
NOTE: This would make the Great Lakes League into eight teams. This would also make the Western Jr. C
League into six teams.
Great Lakes - 8
Belleriver Canadians (Jr.C)
Blenhiem Blades (Jr.C)
Dresden Kings (Jr.C)
Essex 73’s (Jr.C)
Kingsville Comets (Jr.C)
Mooretown Flags (Jr.C)
Wheatley Sharks (Jr.C)
Wallaceburg Lakers (Jr.C)
Western - 6
Goderich Sailors (Jr.C)
Hanovers Barons (Jr.C)
Kincardine Bulldogs (Jr.C)
Wingham Ironmen (Jr.C)
Walkerton Hawks (Jr.C)
Mount Forest Patiorts (Jr.C)
Niagara East League -10
Caledonia Corvairs (Jr. C)
Chippawa River Hawks (Jr. C)
Dundas Blues (Jr. C)
Dunnville Terriers (Jr. C)
Glanbrook Rangers (Jr. C)
Grimsby Peach Kings (Jr. C)
St. George Dukes (Jr. D)
Hagersville Hawks (Jr. D)
Port Dover Sailors (Jr. D)
Ayr Centennials (Jr. D)
NOTE: This combination of teams would give the Niagara East League 10 teams.
Niagara West League -9
Aylmer Spitfires (Jr. C)
New Hamburg Firebirds (Jr. C)
Norwich Merchants (Jr. C)
Paris Mounties (Jr. C)
Simcoe Storm (Jr. C)
Woodstock Renegades (Jr. C)
Delhi Travelers (Jr. D)
Burford Bulldogs (Jr. D)
Port Stanley Lakers (Jr. D)
NOTE: The combination of teams would give the Niagara West League 9 teamsPROPOSAL 3
The Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario, Central Ontario, and Empire Leagues remain unchanged.
Possible New League – 16 (which can be divided into a North & South Conference)
Tavistock Braves (Jr.D)
Ayr Centennials (Jr.D)
Wellesley Applejacks (Jr.D)
New Hamburg Firebirds (Jr.C)
Woodstock Renegades (Jr.C)
Norwich Merchants (Jr.C)
Thamesford Trojans (Jr.D)
Aylmer Spitfires (Jr.C)
Simcoe Storm (Jr.C)
Paris Mounties (Jr.C)
Port Dover Sailors (Jr.D)
Burford Bulldogs (Jr.D)
Hagersville Hawks (Jr.D)
St. George Dukes (Jr.D)
Delhi Travellers (Jr.D)
Port Stanely (Jr.D)
Niagara East – 6
Caledonia Corvairs (Jr.C)
Chippawa Riverhawks (Jr.C)
Dunnville Terriers (Jr.C)
Dundas Blues (Jr.C)
Glanbrook Rangers (Jr.C)
Grimsby Peach Kings (Jr.C)
Western League 5 & 5
NORTH
Hanover Barons (Jr.C)
Walkerton Hawks (Jr.C)
Mount Forest Patriots (Jr.C)
Wingham Ironmen (Jr.C)
Kincardine Bulldogs (Jr.c)
SOUTH
Lucan Irish (Jr.D)
Mitchell Hawks (Jr.C)
Exeter Hawks (Jr.D)
North Middlesex Stars (Jr.D)
Goderich Sailors (Jr.C)
NOTE: Creating two divisions in the Western League and adding three teams would see the league go from
seven teams to ten, five in each division.
Great Lakes North - 6
Mooretown Flags (Jr.C)
Wallaceburg Lakers (Jr.C)
Lambeth Lancers (Jr.D)
Alvinston Flyers (Jr.C)
Mount Brydges Bulldogs (Jr.D)
Dresden Kings (Jr.C)
Great Lakes South - 5
Blenheim Blades (Jr.C)
Essex 73’s (Jr.C)
Belleriver Canadians (Jr.C)
Wheatley Sharks (Jr.C)
Kingsville (Jr.C)
(Source Sentinel-Review)