Thought this was already put to bed - perhaps not. can't depend on "THE LEAGUE" to tell us anything.
At least the division has a name "CENTRAL" nice ring to it..Synonyms: 4. major, main, key, leading, primary.

FROM ERA BANNER:

By: John Cudmore

The Ontario Hockey Federation has denied an appeal by core members of the Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League to overturn a pilot project involving at least eight member teams starting with the 2008-09 season.

The federation ruled Monday night the Ontario Hockey Association did not contravene its rules and regulations in endorsing the pilot project, to be known as the Central Division, which is to include the Stouffville Spirit, Newmarket Hurricanes and Markham Waxers.

may take case to hockey canada

The goal of the one-year project is to focus on player development for the Ontario Hockey League and university level hockey in Canada and the United States.

Fri Jun 20, 2008


By Jason Chamberlain

NORTHUMBERLAND - Eight of Ontario’s Junior A (OPJHL) hockey teams are ready to move forward with a developmental conference, but 28 other teams are saying ‘not so fast’.

Although the Ontario Development Conference (ODC) has been authorized as a one-year pilot project by the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), the 28 teams not included in the ODC have filed an appeal to the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) to block the creation of the conference. The rift between Junior A teams is easy to spot in Northumberland, where the Cobourg Cougars are part of the ODC while the Port Hope Predators are amongst the 28 teams seeking to override it.

“Twenty-eight teams are united and together and moving forward with an appeal of the OHA mandate,” said Tim Clayden, director of hockey and general manager for the Predators, and current member of the OPJHL executive. “The Port Hope Predators are 100 per cent committed to the executive committee’s decisions as a whole and the OPJHL core group 28 league member teams.”

Proponents and members of the ODC, including Cougars’ governor Marc Mercier, said the project was open and transparent from the beginning,

“Transparency is what the ODC is all about,” said Mercier, who was involved in the conference from the start. “To the best of my knowledge and belief, the OPJHL received, through its executive, numerous communications including copies of all materials that were relevant. Our group has been fully transparent with respect to all of our communications with the OHA and the OPJHL (by) providing copies of any and all communications of an official nature concerning this particular matter.”

But Clayden is one of many who disagree.

“If the process was transparent, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” he said. “All 36 teams realize we have to make changes to make the league better. Some of the ODC’s ideas are good and worth exploring, (but) that’s from the input of eight teams. Twenty-eight teams also have good ideas that would make our league better. Why not have everyone join hands together to make it better?”

Clayden and other appellants further believe that ODC member teams have been portraying the conference as a ‘super league’ to aid in recruitment.

“There are some hard feelings about their recruiting practices,” he said. “Some of the teams are going out and calling it a super-elite division. There’s nothing super or elite about it.”

However, Anthony Pietramala, president of the Newmarket Hurricanes and spokesman for the ODC teams, staunchly denies that any such practices have been used.

“This was never about breaking away from the OHA, it was never about being an outlaw league, and it was never about being a super elite league. No member has the right to say anything about a super league. We have very strict written guidelines with do’s and don’ts, and that’s a don’t,” he said. “Anyone trying to make more of it has sour grapes for the wrong reasons or is misinformed.”

It now falls to the OHF to decide the immediate future of the OPJHL, and Clayden expects a decision will be made within the next two weeks.

“The core group is committed to exercising all their rights of appeal including the OHF, Hockey Canada and, if need be, the courts,” said Clayden.

Mercier said the Cougars and the other ODC teams, meanwhile, will await the decision of the OHF while continuing to prepare for the new season.

“We obviously want to see this (appeal) process handled through the appropriate channels. We’re all about process and transparency,” said Mercier. “(The Cougars) remain focused on building the best team we can for the upcoming season.”

Clayden, the Preds and 27 other teams will also continue to prepare for the new season, whatever shape it ends up taking.

“The OPJHL will play hockey next year. The divisions and conferences are yet to be determined and the OHF and Hockey Canada will have a lot of say in that,” said Clayden.

Sure does!