Wes Keller I f anything became clear at an historical gathering of officials from both Hockey Canada (HC) and the Greater Metro Hockey League (GMHL) on the same stage at a public town-hall style meeting Tuesday evening, it was that residents of the Shelburne area have no problem with the presence there of a mostly Russian Junior A hockey team, the Red Wings.

If they do have a problem with anything, it might be with the allocation of ice time by the Centre Dufferin arena board and, most certainly, with the imposition of Hockey Canada rules upon players at the House League level.

My personal appraisal of the position taken by HC is that its attitudes and regulations must be reviewed before it receives any further public support.

In a question period that followed presentations by HC and GMHL, Debbie Crawford complained that Friday night ice time had been taken from Minor Hockey and given to the Red Wings.

And A.J. Cavey, a hockey mom and town councillor, said her son plays minor hockey and abides by the HC rules when doing so. “When the game is over, he belongs to me. The kid should be able to watch whom he wants; carry water to whom he wants,” she said.

The advent of a non-Canadian hockey squad has not divided the town, nor has it created “a cold-war zone,” as suggested by the Toronto Star last Dec. 4. That was evident from the aura at Grace Tipling Hall where one might have expected to find a theatre divided had that been so. And it was emphasized in Mayor Ed Crewson’s opening remarks, when he described The Star’s story as “a damning indictment of Shelburne’s 5,500 residents, and possibly libelous.”

But it had been the story that prompted the mayor’s calling of a meeting of all parties. So a measure of good had come as a result – but the measure might be too small to atone for even a portion of the damage done to the town’s national reputation.

The author of the Star story had described the population as “narrowminded,” an accusation arising from Minor Hockey’s reported warning to a 10-year-old house league kid, Jacob Berardi, that he would be suspended from his team if he continued to act as a Red Wings water boy.

It had not been narrow mindedness on the part of Minor Hockey. It had been an imposition of a nonsensical HC ruling. To violate the HC rule would be to place the minor association in peril of losing the right to play in tournaments, or so it would appear.

The mayor said the meeting had been called because hockey parents need to understand the rules.

I got the impression there is nothing to understand, that the rules are being made as the game goes on.

HC Vice-President Glen McCurdie said in effect that the rules are developed in the same way as the common law, with precedent-setting decisions. He said HC rules are, essentially, “not to support those who do not support us.” But such a statement is open to interpretation. What constitutes support? Is it someone who buys a ticket to see a GMHL game? Is it an 8-yearold water boy?

Nor was it clear what Mr. McCurdie meant when he told the audience the HC rules are “flexible.” Are they open to interpretation by local member associations?

GMHL Communications Director Marshall Uretsky said the HC rules had threatened to ban an Algoma house league player for acting as water boy for a GMHL team. And then it threatened in the following season to ban the kid if his father acted as timekeeper for the team.

If that is how the HC rules are meant to be applied, I have to wonder if some law is not being broken.

Mr. Uretsky said HC used the Algoma water boy as “a pawn.” Why? Hockey Canada would appear to have a veritable monopoly on all hockey activity, even to the extent of the recreational variety.

That was demonstrated by Ontario Hockey Federation’s Executive Director Phillip McKee, in response to a series of questions by Mr. Uretsky.

Mr. Uretsky is owner of the Toronto Canada Moose Junior A team of the GMHL, and a self-employed hockey trainer.

He cited examples of private trainers being contracted by OHF teams. Would he be eligible for such a contract if not connected with GMHL? Probably. Would he be eligible in spite of his GMHL connection? Mr. McKee’s response was a subdued, “no.”

At the end of the presentations and the questions, Mayor Crewson successfully challenged Mr. McCurdie to allow Jacob to serve the Red Wings’ water needs. If that is a precedential decision that becomes known to all local associations, Tuesday’s meeting restored a bit of sanity to the application of the rules.

But Hockey Canada’s control needs to be reviewed. It has probably served a vital purpose and should continue to do so. But in a democratic Canada there is no room for an organization that monopolizes any activity to the prejudice of all others.

Hockey Canada is worthy of public support only if or when it recognizes the validity of independent leagues and their right to exist.

Let us not forget that the Toronto Maple Leafs were doing just fine before the formation of anything resembling Hockey Canada. Oh, never mind.