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'Hope you people are happy now,' Thessalon tells the Sault

SooToday.com received the following letter last night from parents of the Thessalon Jr.
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SooToday.com received the following letter last night from parents of the Thessalon Jr. Flyers Pee Wee Minor Hockey Team:

******************** Let the children play hockey

We are writing this letter with great disappointment towards the Sault Recreational Hockey League.

Just recently we had to tell our children that they no longer have a place to play the game they love to play - hockey.

Why let teams in the SRHA if they are going to be ousted because of their ability to play the game?

Is it because of the kids? Is it because of the parents?

There are many questions to be answered as to why Thessalon Jr. Flyers Pee Wee Minors are no longer welcome to play in the league that once allowed them with great anticipation and excitement of expanding an association for the 2004/05 season.

This season Thessalon Minor Hockey joined in with the SRHA.

Our team has been on a roller coaster ride since the season began.

It was all fine until the Sault-based teams realized that defeating us was going to be a major task.

First we were in the league and we were out, back in again and now we are out for the balance of the season.

Our kids no longer have a place to play hockey.

How do you tell children that because they are too good they are being penalized with the ultimate penalty - banned from the SRHA League?

Being parents, it is important to look out for the best interest of the children.

But in this case it appears to be the parents of the SRHA ego.

What would happen if all teams refused to go play a regular scheduled game and made decisions that would eliminate your successful teams such as the Soo North Stars?

It would appear that the SRHA executive has no control over the parents of the Sault-based teams.

It sounds like another Eric Lindros situation where parents decide who plays whom and where.

When all was said and done the real losers are our children for they no longer have a place to play hockey.

So much for Thessalon’s dedication of travelling to Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday nights and Thursday nights for games.

Our children didn't seem to mind knowing these games were on school nights.

They didn’t care if they were tired in the classroom the next day.

The reason why they didn't care was because they got to play hockey.

So for the parents of the SRHA Pee Wee Minor, you are not hurting us the parents or our dedicated coaching staff, our CHILDREN are being hurt.

Maybe we need to bring our children to the SRHA executive so that these people that make the decisions can look into the eyes of 12 disappointed children and explain to them why they are no longer in the SRHA.

We were always under the impression that House League Hockey was supposed to be fun for the children whose skills were not up to top-notch standards but to develop the skills necessary for future dreams.

While skills are to be developed at this category the main focus was to have fun and make new friends.

Our children just like to play hockey.

For those parents that don’t know the game of hockey, there has to be a loser and a winner in every game but do the players honestly care once the game is over?

Another point is that in Pee Wee age children there is body contact.

Unfortunately some parents and coaches think otherwise.

For a point of interest, our Novice team has yet to win a game in the SRHA, but do you hear anyone complaining?

No, because the Sault based teams are winning.

The children are just happy to be playing hockey.

We really hope you people are happy now.

- parents of the Thessalon Jr. Flyers Pee Wee Minor Hockey Team

******************** SRHA President Craig Knight has responded to this letter today in SooToday.com's News Response forum. You're welcome to join the discussion that's underway there.


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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