The reality is the first 10 days or so are full of meaningless games with very few players that will ultimately end of playing in the league this season. Some of the teams like Nepean and Gloucester have historically run big training Camps that have 4 or more teams. I would expect rosters to be reduced to a reasonable size by Aug 24-26th weekend and you will start to get a better feel for what teams will really look like.
The reality is the first 10 days or so are full of meaningless games with very few players that will ultimately end of playing in the league this season. Some of the teams like Nepean and Gloucester have historically run big training Camps that have 4 or more teams. I would expect rosters to be reduced to a reasonable size by Aug 24-26th weekend and you will start to get a better feel for what teams will really look like.
And yet one team ends up in top group and the other doesn't.
Gloucester lost 14 players from their 2010-2011 either to ohl/ncaa or graduation. what did you expect their season would be like last year?? MASSIVE REBUILD. In 10-11, finished 4th
Gloucester lost 14 players from their 2010-2011 either to ohl/ncaa or graduation. what did you expect their season would be like last year?? MASSIVE REBUILD. In 10-11, finished 4th
GOOD TEAMS...do not REBUILD....they RELOAD....so what if they lost that many kids...Pembroke does every year and look at them....matter of fact look at the so called expansion canadians....have reloaded since year two....teams that work hard...do well...proven fact....look at nepean..PG recruits hard...won league....hard work = success...and in my opinion...there are about 7 teams that dont work hard....
GOOD TEAMS...do not REBUILD....they RELOAD....so what if they lost that many kids...Pembroke does every year and look at them....matter of fact look at the so called expansion canadians....have reloaded since year two....teams that work hard...do well...proven fact....look at nepean..PG recruits hard...won league....hard work = success...and in my opinion...there are about 7 teams that dont work hard....
Great post and you are absolutely right.
However, it appears that there are only 6 teams that do not put the effort into scouting, recruiting and signing. It is evident Kemptville is working hard to be better.
The teams that do not make the effort and investment in time, expertise and resources have no right to complain whatsoever. Perhaps their fans have a right to complain.
That is what is so upsetting and sad about Cumberland and Gloucester, there is little evidence that they are working hard to become better. If all teams worked hard to be better, it would be better hockey and a better league.
However, it appears that there are only 6 teams that do not put the effort into scouting, recruiting and signing. It is evident Kemptville is working hard to be better.
The teams that do not make the effort and investment in time, expertise and resources have no right to complain whatsoever. Perhaps their fans have a right to complain.
That is what is so upsetting and sad about Cumberland and Gloucester, there is little evidence that they are working hard to become better. If all teams worked hard to be better, it would be better hockey and a better league.
"you eat what you kill"
There are 5 teams in the league, IMO that have a proven track record at recruiting, PLK, CW, CP, Nepean and Brock, over a longer period of time. Hawkesbury did a good job last year but seem to only be successful in Quebec, mainly Montreal (big enough City though that could be enough). I agree that Kemptville seems to be turning a corner, DG in Ottawa works hard at it also, SF although a lot of local players HC always brings in some good players. In the end I believe that there are 9 teams having various levels of success at bringing in talent right now. Not everyone is going to be successful immediately or do not have all the resources/experience to be right away, but at least these teams seem to be working on it.
GOOD TEAMS...do not REBUILD....they RELOAD....so what if they lost that many kids...Pembroke does every year and look at them....matter of fact look at the so called expansion canadians....have reloaded since year two....teams that work hard...do well...proven fact....look at nepean..PG recruits hard...won league....hard work = success...and in my opinion...there are about 7 teams that dont work hard....
What about the question, why do they have to recruit so hard ?
Part of the problem lies in the way the ODMHA has screwed up the Major Midget program. Most kids in the Ottawa area don't pursue hockey after Minor Midget unless they are:
1. Good enough to play Jr A
2. Rich enough to go to Prep School.
Fix this problem and maybe you won't need to bring all your 18-20 year old's in from outside of the Branch.
I have heard this issue of Major Midget being screwed up for years. Problem is no one knows how to fix it. Would be nice to have more local kids playing Junior A, but in order to compete at FPC or RBC you need to recrute. Controling imports in total CJHL would be only way to put teams on even par for National tournaments. Can't see that happening.
What about the question, why do they have to recruit so hard ?
Part of the problem lies in the way the ODMHA has screwed up the Major Midget program. Most kids in the Ottawa area don't pursue hockey after Minor Midget unless they are:
1. Good enough to play Jr A
2. Rich enough to go to Prep School.
Fix this problem and maybe you won't need to bring all your 18-20 year old's in from outside of the Branch.
Major Midget is not strong because of all the players able to go to Junior as 16 year olds, that is not ODMHA it is Hockey Canada and the ODHA. There are lots of good players playing hockey after Minor Midget. In this area most players feel that Junior B is a better place to go than Major Midget, cost/travel is lower and level of play is better, most Junior A teams prefer their guys to play at that level. May not be as much practice but you can make up for that in other ways.
Last edited by Ottawa Guy: 07-12-2012 at 10:26 AM.
ODMHA is getting better. When I played in the early 2000's there was no AAA teams unless you played for the Titans (and I don't know anyone who did). You ended up playing AA and then made the jump to Jr if you were good enough. Hell a guy I knew only played A, walked on to the South Ottawa Canadians Jr. B team and ended up in Gloucester with the Rangers.
At least these days with the Jr 67's and the Jr Sens AAA programs the kids have some options we definitely did not have.
ODMHA is getting better. When I played in the early 2000's there was no AAA teams unless you played for the Titans (and I don't know anyone who did). You ended up playing AA and then made the jump to Jr if you were good enough. Hell a guy I knew only played A, walked on to the South Ottawa Canadians Jr. B team and ended up in Gloucester with the Rangers.
At least these days with the Jr 67's and the Jr Sens AAA programs the kids have some options we definitely did not have.
My original post was certainly not to take away from the improvements made to the ODMHA AAA program. But you simply can not ignore what is going on with our 16 year old players. Take a look at the OPJHL rosters and tell me if you see any differences between them and the CCHL.
Major Midget is not strong because of all the players able to go to Junior as 16 year olds, that is not ODMHA it is Hockey Canada and the ODHA. There are lots of good players playing hockey after Minor Midget. In this area most players feel that Junior B is a better place to go than Major Midget, cost/travel is lower and level of play is better, most Junior A teams prefer their guys to play at that level. May not be as much practice but you can make up for that in other ways.
Do you believe that the rules around 16 year old's playing in Junior are consistent across the country ? I don't have the information formally, but my belief is they are totally different, especially around the trading of 16 year old cards between Jr. levels.
My original post was certainly not to take away from the improvements made to the ODMHA AAA program. But you simply can not ignore what is going on with our 16 year old players. Take a look at the OPJHL rosters and tell me if you see any differences between them and the CCHL.
Oh don't get me wrong. In no way do I think the ODMHA is anywhere near the potential it should be. There a lot of very talented players in Ottawa who eitehr have to leave town or fall between the cracks.
For the second biggest city in the most populace province in Canada, our minor hockey leagues are junk at the elite level compared to other cities of similar size.
Oh don't get me wrong. In no way do I think the ODMHA is anywhere near the potential it should be. There a lot of very talented players in Ottawa who eitehr have to leave town or fall between the cracks.
For the second biggest city in the most populace province in Canada, our minor hockey leagues are junk at the elite level compared to other cities of similar size.
I still think we do fine up to and including Minor Midget. Each year we seem to get a least one, sometimes two teams into the OHL Cup quarter finals. The big drop is Major Midget and because of that there are no "qualified" 18-20 year olds to fill the CCHL so they pull from the prep schools, Quebec Major Midget, OHA, CIHA, etc...
Oh don't get me wrong. In no way do I think the ODMHA is anywhere near the potential it should be. There a lot of very talented players in Ottawa who eitehr have to leave town or fall between the cracks.
For the second biggest city in the most populace province in Canada, our minor hockey leagues are junk at the elite level compared to other cities of similar size.
My original post was certainly not to take away from the improvements made to the ODMHA AAA program. But you simply can not ignore what is going on with our 16 year old players. Take a look at the OPJHL rosters and tell me if you see any differences between them and the CCHL.
Keep in mind the Opjhl has what around 30 teams so there are far far more openings.
