I am new to the CCHL. Would like some input as to the best and worst run teams based on:
Team Finanical Resources
Overall Management & Vision
Organization Strengths/Weakness
Player Development
Facilities(Arena/Team Dressing Room...etc)
Intangibles
Who is the best and the worst?
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I have knowledge of three organizations, and will do my best to objectively answer your queries based on those three.
AJAX ATTACK
Team Financial Resources -- A The owner is very generous, and willing to spend to improve things, especially for the players.
Overall Management & Vision -- A The GM is experienced, quality head coach, and a marketing man that is beyond compare (lol, just throwing that in for the guys who are going to chirp me anyways!)
Organization Strengths/Weakness -- STRENGTHS: A growing fan base; treats players very well
WEAKNESSES: Town commitment to team; organization takes a lot of unwarranted criticism
Player Development -- ??? Jury is out. Took team to first playoff series win last season, but need to see where players go after first taste of success.
Facilities(Arena/Team Dressing Room...etc) -- ARENA: C- TEAM DRESSING ROOM: A+ The arena is terrible. Only seats about 600 at capacity, with gallery seating which I absolutely HATE for Jr. A Hockey as there is a separation between fans and players. The team just moved into a huge dressing room, however, and well equipped. Big screen TV for the players, huge cubicles for equipment, trainer's room, etc.
Intangibles -- As mentioned under weaknesses, this team takes a lot of unwarranted criticism due mostly to the starting goalie also being the owner's son. However, the people in the organization care about hockey, and are constantly looking to improve what we do.
WHITBY FURY
Team Financial Resources -- A Whitby has a large numbers of owners and investors. Money is not an issue.
Overall Management & Vision -- B+ Frank Robinson is a terrific hockey man, who took a previously terrible Pickering team and revamped them into a very successful run. While I have never seen the owners getting involved in hockey decisions, with the number of owners that Whitby has it is inevitable that some disagreements will occur.
Organization Strengths/Weakness -- STRENGTHS: On ice, the Fury are going in the right direction; coaching staff is fantastic WEAKNESSES: Too easy going at times (i.e., arena has not yet followed through on certain concessions that were agreed upon, not ensuring to have computer available for Pointstreak in home opener)
Player Development -- A+ Whitby built a very, very young, fast team last season, and this season they came out of the off-season a lot bigger, without sacrificing any speed or skill. Should improve to a top five team this season.
Facilities(Arena/Team Dressing Room...etc) ARENA: A+ TEAM DRESSING ROOM: D When they finally move back into Pad 1 at Iroquois, they have one of the best rinks in the league. Full bowl seating, seats around 1,500 (I think), good sound system. It's a quality facility. The dressing room (unless this has changed, I haven't seen the room so far this season) is just the same rooms the rink rents out to rentals. No stalls, nothing. The town had a deal in place to renovate and add a dressing room for the team over the summer, but from what I understand it got pushed back until next year.
Intangibles -- The Fury are the closest to a "family" atmosphere I have ever worked for, from Mike Primeau right on down to the very last volunteer. Everybody are good friends, and that comraderie trickles right down to the players.
MARKHAM WAXERS
(I only worked for them last season, but I'm sure not a whole lot has changed)
Team Finanical Resources -- B The group of investors is good, budgets are held very strictly.
Overall Management & Vision -- B+ Having Joe C. so heavily involved in both the midget and Jr. A teams is both an asset and a liability...an asset because consistency and continuity can be maintained with players all the way up, but at the same time, when Joe is wrong about a player, he can become a glaring Jr. A weakness.
Organization Strengths/Weakness -- STRENGTHS: Winning tradition attracts quality players; Rick Cornacchia. WEAKNESSES: Small fan base; Richard Clayton.
Player Development -- A Who can argue with success and fourteen winning seasons in a row? They must be doing something right in developing players.
Facilities(Arena/Team Dressing Room...etc) -- ARENA B- TEAM DRESSING ROOM B+ What could be a very good arena is hampered by very poor lighting and seemingly neverending renovations; last season, they were tearing out the old seats DURING the game. Dressing room is spacious, and there is a separate medical room for players, stationary bikes in the hallway, and a separate equipment room.
Intangibles -- As mentioned, the Waxers tradition alone is enough to entice players. Their Wall of Fame is extremely impressive, and it is tough to dispute that that kind of success breeds a winning attitude.
There you have it for the three teams I've worked for last season and this.
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"While I have never seen the owners getting involved in hockey decisions,"
I just laughed at this one sharpie. Your breaking me up.
Frank Robinson a quality manager? I think a number of players and parents at the Ajax Attack would disagree with you on that one. For my own view the book on Frank is still open, I will formulate a judgement on Frank's level of managing by the end of October.
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All the success Markham has had the last few years rested on the shoulders of Rick C. An excellent hockey person with a track record. Joe C is riding the coat tails of his brother and everyone in hockey knows this. My book on Joe C will be an open book by the end of October.
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Don't get me wrong, it's all well and good that he billets four players for the team, but he is an extreme liability in that his extreme lack of professionalism in dealing with people reflects very poorly upon the organization, and yet their hands are tied because if he leaves who do they replace him with in terms of billeting?
Remember, these assessments are based on my own experience from the inside of the organizations in question. In the case of Mr. Clayton, it is based on my own personal observations of his dealings with people; in one case, almost coming to blows with another player, in another case based on my own personal dealings with the man.
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Sharpie states........... "in another case based on my own personal dealings with the man".
Sharpie, if anyone had to deal with you,exception being the man paying you,I can see this happening. You call Mr. Clayton a detriment to the organization yet you have also embarrassed the Ajax team on the Cage. You need to be more professional.
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And you need to grow up, grow a set, and stop hiding behind the anonymity of these forums. If you have anything to say to me or about me, come on out to the rink. I'll even leave a free ticket at the gate for you so you don't have to pay. And yes, despite your cowardly desire to protect your identity on these forums, I do know who you are. Come and discuss things face-to-face, I'll even buy you a coffee.
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In Whitby, it was one of the things that the town had agreed on, but still has not delivered. The team moved in to Iroquois because it is a terrific venue, in a great hockey town, and is still waiting on a dressing room to be built at this point.
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The ownership group of Whitby has been involved with the Fury how long? How can other Jr A teams move into new arenas and set up classy dressing rooms so easily. If the town has agreed to it and they've had plenty of time to do it well then maybe Sharpie your info is wrong and there is no agreement. All the owners had to do was open their pocketbooks and build it.................and they will come. Sounds like Field, excuse me, Rink Of Dreams.
Mr Tosh should stop dreaming and start making Jr A hockey work in Whitby. The last few years have been brutal.
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I'll throw the Seguin Bruins hat into the ring. Although they may not have all the ammenities that some of the southern rinks have the players are treated very well and there are no additional costs to being on the team. Players get most external equipment, some sticks and billeting is taken care of. The GM appears to be a stand up guy who works hard for not just the team but the community at large. Yes I am biased and new to this level of hockey and the season is young but no complaints so far.
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I just wanted to bring this thread back to the forefront, because it has resulted in the best thing that has ever happened to me in Jr. A Hockey.
At the Bowmanville showcase, Joe C. told me that because I gave Whitby a higher grade than Markham in player development, that he is not talking to me. And so far he has been true to his word.
Festivus miracle indeed!!!
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One of worst: Streetsville. Watch them drop in the standings as the season progresses. Clueless coaching staff that has no idea how to treat or develop players... but that's nothing new there.
One of best: Milton. While still a parent-owned team, players are treated with honesty and respect.
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Streetsville won't be a hockey team until Tom Baker leaves the scene. He still controls and micromanages the team so that little JB can still get his 5min shifts. Its been like that since the nat,redwing,wrap and roll days. An absolute joke. When Pirri was with him it was Pirri's older brother doing the stats. Go figure. Did I say phantom points? Nope.
As for Markham and Whitby I don't blame Joe C for being upset. Markham has developed a far greater amount of players then Whitby...its not even close. There's Sharpie blowing hot smoke again. How much did Whitby pay you for that one? Its early in the season but Joe C is off to a pretty good start.
I have to apologize to Joe C here. In the past I had given all the credit to Rick C for Markhams past success but Joe has been an integral part of that success......basically doing a lot of the leg work and stuff that doesn't get the glory. Keep up the good work Joe.
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