| Original Message |
Anonymous (no login)
Posted Jul 3, 2009 11:14 AM
You paragraph about the Intermediate aged players mixed in with a mostly Midget aged team requires a few responses:
Quote: "While some truly Intermediate-aged girls (especially those already pursuing post-secondary programs) have been very strong, mature role models and valuable leaders on various PWHL teams, I have unfortunately seen and heard of many more cases where their influence on their respective teams has been more negative: without such hockey/educational aspirations, their commitment to the necessary work ethic was weaker, their level of hockey interest and drive primarily social, and their passion for off-ice partying more pronounced. Such attitudes can easily spread within a team, and are perhaps more suited to Int A or Senior AA environments. Perhaps this is also part of the reason why coaches may be cautious about adding too many older players, irrespective of their skill level."
1 - While Dice may not like the use of the word overager when talking PWHL teams, the reality is PWHL teams are in essence Midget Aged teams with the odd Intermediate aged player irregardless of the label.
2 - Given the different objectives of the 18-21 year old playing Intermediate vs the Objective of the 16 and 17 year Midget players, there will always be mixing issues. Most 18-21 years olds playing in the PW were not the leaders of their group when they were 16 or 17. Those players are off playing Univeristy hockey.
IMHO the solution is simple: Make the PWHL offically what it in essence already is today, a Midget AAA loop. The odd 18 year old wanting to do an extra year has Senior hockey as an option. This would once and for all end the never ending discussions about overagers. Reduce the PW by 10-20% in size to adjust for the lower number of players. You could even create one true Intermediate AA team in the GTA and have it part of the league as the designated overage club. Membership on that team would be restricted to Int AA players only and would provide a place to play for those players of caliber no longer at Midget age, and not going to CIS/NCAA. |
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