CIHL president addresses team issues

ABRIDGED NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

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CIHL PRESIDENT ADDRESSES ISSUES

Tim Clayden, founder and president of the new Canadian International Hockey League, has issued a statement with regards to the status of the four southern Ontario teams. Clayden’s statement — which also touches on planned, upcoming showcase tournaments that will involve CIHL teams — is as follows.

“Unfortunately, both the Colborne Hawks and Milton Battle Arts Cobras are having financial issues that have caused all four southern teams to rethink their positions within the CIHL.

Team operators knew coming in there would be little-to-no-room for financial gain personally. Most junior hockey people understand there is no profit in this game, you do it for the passion of the game and the enjoyment of being around your players day to day.

Thus, I am in total shock that the good operators of both the Collingwood Ice and Toronto Jr. Hockey Academy would follow the lead of Coach-General Manager Mike Jeschke in Colborne and Dan Garneau in Milton and jeopardize the good standing of both the Collingwood and Toronto franchises — and worse yet, jeopardize the season of their players and parents who have invested in their teams and the promotion of their players.

It’s a real shame because Mr. Tim Dickieson (Collingwood) and Mr. Paul Heck (Toronto) are quality people who have put quality junior programs together in a short time.

I can’t speak for any of the southern teams at this time as it certainly looks like they are following the lead of Mr. Jeschke and Mr. Garneau, with the Colborne and Milton teams both being delinquent in their league fees and insurance payments.

However, it is my understanding that Colborne owner, Mr. Dan Fisher, has started to look at putting in a new management group in place for the Hawks.

The CIHL remains hopeful that the southern teams will take the weekend to rethink their positions and do what is right for the kids that have committed to their teams — and that includes the parents who have invested monies in their programs.

The CIHL will remain committed to the players and teams that remain committed to us and we will continue our focus on building our North Division that will include an interlocking schedule after Christmas with other Junior A teams including the highly-respected Detroit Fighting Irish.

Our CIHL Winter College Classic will now be held in Kalkaska, Michigan on January 9, 10 and 11 where we have an ongoing concerted effort to ensure college scouts will be in attendance and generating the much-sought-after National Collegiate Athletic Association and American Collegiate Hockey Association exposure and promotion for our CIHL players.

As well, Coach-General Manager Dan Vasquez and his previously-mentioned Detroit Fighting Irish will be hosting a college showcase weekend that will include our CIHL players and teams in February.

At the end of the day, it is my hope that the southern Ontario teams who are in good standing with the CIHL remain on-side for the remainder of this season.

As for next season, should they decide to bolt, be our guest, as we only want operators involved for the right reasons and ones that remain dedicated to putting the development and the promotion of their student-athlete players first,” stated Clayden.

CIHL Hockey will remain dedicated to delivering its promise to all players and their parents in the development and promotion of its worldwide student-athletes who always come first. The CIHL, under the direction of its sanctioning body, the Canadian International Amateur Hockey Federation, will continue to work toward taking its players to the colleges. CIHL Hockey strongly believes that playing in the USA throughout the Great Lakes water way system; adding college showcase tournaments as a part of its regular season and having playoff hockey into late April of each season is paramount to the success of CIHL hockey student-athletes and their continued dedication to CIHL student-athletes promotion to the colleges. 

For more information on CIHL Hockey, visit http://www.cihlhockey.net

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