Rule changes in 1990 affected Jr. C Hockey

By C. Scott Holland

The 1990-91 Great Lakes Jr. C season and that of all Jr. C teams was greatly affected by two notable Ontario Hockey Association rules changes.

The OHA approved the use of two overage players for all Jr. C teams and that change was supported by the Great Lakes Hockey League executive.

Flyers head coach Kirk Bowman was confronted by a problem since the Flyers had four overagers who all indicated they wanted to play.

“It should be interesting,” said Bowman. “Everybody will be fighting for a spot on the Flyers team this season.”

An additional rule change would not allow any teams to use players under a ‘minor waiver’ – that is to play on a card from another minor hockey association. An example would be the Flyers using a player from the Harrow Minor Hockey Association.

KIRK BOWMAN

“That means the club will have to release these players and pay the going fee,” Bowman explained.

However, it did not prevent the team from using players from the Leamington Minor Hockey Association (later known as Southpoint).

The Flyers head coach also indicated that a large turnout was expected for the 1990-91 September training camp, since he had mailed 120 invitations.

Also, Bowman strongly supported Leamington District Secondary School’s decision to have a hockey team.

“I think it’s a great idea and the move will give that many more players a place to play.”

Because of the large number of hockey players, he doubted that high school hockey would affect the Flyers or the Great Lakes loop. He did note that Wallaceburg – a Jr. C mainstay for about 25 years – had dropped out to whittle the league down to 10 teams and thus form two balanced divisions of north and south with each having five teams.