Post by maritimer on Sept 28, 2007 9:20:05 GMT -4
I guess Langan isn't the only one. It appears to be a nation wide issue.
MJAHL TEAMS AWAIT HOCKEY CANADA RULING
OTTAWA, ON, September 27, 2007 - Hockey Canada will hear appeals in "about 20 cases" for transfers or movement outside their province for players that are 16 or 17 years-old tomorrow and next Friday, Oct. 5.
Four or five of those teams who will make their case and then hear their verdict are from the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.
Among the most vocal of the group with the risk of losing a player is Danny Berry, head coach and general manager of the Antigonish Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs case involves 16-year-old forward Jason Smallman of Center Line Road in western P.E.I. Smallman was taken sixth overall in the third round during this past June’s midget draft.
The two other teams known to also be waiting to plead their case are the Woodstock Slammers with Whitehorse, YK., native Andrew Pettit, a player assigned to them from Moncton Wildcats, and highly touted Amherst Rambler 16-year-old Jordan Escott.
"We’re hopeful but Hockey Canada isn’t being to cooperative," Berry said Monday night.
Lisa Noseworthy, manager of regulations with Hockey Canada, said the appeals committee hears anywhere from 100 to 130 appeals from players in the age range of 13 to 17 years-old looking to transfer branch to branch or move from the U.S to Canada.
"It (the rule) has been around for years," Noseworthy said from Hockey Canada’s Ottawa office Thursday afternoon. "It’s not only for 16 year old but for the last year of midget players too, which is 17."
She noted that the committee will hear "20 appeals" in total between tomorrow and next Friday. She couldn’t talk specifically about any case or indicate when the teams from the MJAHL involved may hear an outcome.
The whole problem arises from Hockey Canada rule K - 6 A which states "No player of Midget eligibility or under (refer to Hockey Canada B.1) may be transferred Branch to Branch, or from USA Hockey to Hockey Canada, or from any other IIHF Federation to play other then Major Junior hockey unless it comes under Regulation H.8 (b) There is an exception for those Midget players in their last year of Midget eligibility when there is no Junior A hockey in their home branch."
Berry says there is no transferring as Hockey Canada is saying, because the Maritime Junior A Hockey League falls under the Hockey Nova Scotia branch.
"They let the 17 year-olds go up but they won’t let the 16-year-olds," Berry said."I feel we have a fighting chance (to win the appeal),"
"We’re waiting for the clock to tick."
When asked to compare the upheld and won appeals, Noseworthy couldn’t compare it to the situations on the MJAHL appeals. "It’s hard to base it on because the appeals from last year were for International or 17 year-olds," she added.
What it all boils down to is if the team has followed the proper protocol, and that includes having the player’s permission, Noseworthy, who’s been in her position for the past three years, said.
"It basically, whether they are approved or denied, comes down to each case or the circumstances behind their request," Noseworthy said. - by Pat Healey, Hockeyscene.com correspondent
MJAHL TEAMS AWAIT HOCKEY CANADA RULING
OTTAWA, ON, September 27, 2007 - Hockey Canada will hear appeals in "about 20 cases" for transfers or movement outside their province for players that are 16 or 17 years-old tomorrow and next Friday, Oct. 5.
Four or five of those teams who will make their case and then hear their verdict are from the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.
Among the most vocal of the group with the risk of losing a player is Danny Berry, head coach and general manager of the Antigonish Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs case involves 16-year-old forward Jason Smallman of Center Line Road in western P.E.I. Smallman was taken sixth overall in the third round during this past June’s midget draft.
The two other teams known to also be waiting to plead their case are the Woodstock Slammers with Whitehorse, YK., native Andrew Pettit, a player assigned to them from Moncton Wildcats, and highly touted Amherst Rambler 16-year-old Jordan Escott.
"We’re hopeful but Hockey Canada isn’t being to cooperative," Berry said Monday night.
Lisa Noseworthy, manager of regulations with Hockey Canada, said the appeals committee hears anywhere from 100 to 130 appeals from players in the age range of 13 to 17 years-old looking to transfer branch to branch or move from the U.S to Canada.
"It (the rule) has been around for years," Noseworthy said from Hockey Canada’s Ottawa office Thursday afternoon. "It’s not only for 16 year old but for the last year of midget players too, which is 17."
She noted that the committee will hear "20 appeals" in total between tomorrow and next Friday. She couldn’t talk specifically about any case or indicate when the teams from the MJAHL involved may hear an outcome.
The whole problem arises from Hockey Canada rule K - 6 A which states "No player of Midget eligibility or under (refer to Hockey Canada B.1) may be transferred Branch to Branch, or from USA Hockey to Hockey Canada, or from any other IIHF Federation to play other then Major Junior hockey unless it comes under Regulation H.8 (b) There is an exception for those Midget players in their last year of Midget eligibility when there is no Junior A hockey in their home branch."
Berry says there is no transferring as Hockey Canada is saying, because the Maritime Junior A Hockey League falls under the Hockey Nova Scotia branch.
"They let the 17 year-olds go up but they won’t let the 16-year-olds," Berry said."I feel we have a fighting chance (to win the appeal),"
"We’re waiting for the clock to tick."
When asked to compare the upheld and won appeals, Noseworthy couldn’t compare it to the situations on the MJAHL appeals. "It’s hard to base it on because the appeals from last year were for International or 17 year-olds," she added.
What it all boils down to is if the team has followed the proper protocol, and that includes having the player’s permission, Noseworthy, who’s been in her position for the past three years, said.
"It basically, whether they are approved or denied, comes down to each case or the circumstances behind their request," Noseworthy said. - by Pat Healey, Hockeyscene.com correspondent
