I was reading an article in the scouting news about Deseronto Storm player Travis White and where he'll end playing next season. The article mentioned the Dukes, Pack,Cougars and Muskies have all been inquiring about his services. White is a Trenton boy but has played a season of Junior in another league. Does he have the choice of where he plays in the OPJHL or does he have to go to the home team? Also, I was watching a Red Devils game last night and was very impressed with a player that lives in Wellington. Now I know the county is free agent territory, but is the town of Wellington at least property of the Dukes. This kid will probably go straight to the "O" but if he decided to take the NCAA rout or require a year of seasoning in the "OP" could he decided where he wanted to go or do the Dukes get first crack at him. I would imagine that this kid, if he plays tier II would want to go to the Dukes, but just for arguments sake would he be their property anyways?
Isn't it true that when a player steps up to Jr A no one own's his rights? Unlike the draft of the OHL, a player can go anywhere a team will sign him at the Jr A level. Right?
Perhaps some sort of draft would bring parity to the OPJHL ... but I'm sure most teams can't afford to billet a horde of players from all over Ontario (the way the OHL teams have to.
Most if not all OPJHL teams have a defined geographic territory from which they can draw players and sign them. Development fees to minor hockey centres apply and releases from lower level junior teams are also required. I am pretty sure that if a team wanted to sign a player who resides in another team's territory some arrangement needs to be made.
I also believe there is a return rule such that if a player signs with OPJHL team "A" and plays a season then plays up the next and wishes to return the following season, team "A" holds his rights for a period of time.
A draft would be a good idea for this league but it would not change the territorial rights of a team.
Perhaps those more in the know can shed more light on the rules.
It can be complicated to explain quickly. Most Jr. A teams have a "club system" with a minor hockey association, usually a local one, which allows them a right of refusal that they must sign off on releases out of that system. Wellington's club system is Belleville minor hockey, for example.
In the case of the player you're talking about, a county player would have to have permission to skate from Picton Jr. C and a release from there, but he would be able to try out anywhere. Also, if a player signs a Jr. C card, he can move on from that Jr. C team wherever they agree to release him.
Once a player signs a card anywhere, his league rights stick with a team for two years if he is released and joins a higher or lower level team. If a player sits out a complete season though, he can become a free agent.
That's kind of where the GMHL thing comes in. Since they aren't Hockey Canada players, when they try to come back the following season, they're treated the same as someone who didn't register — unless they left mid-season, which means another year of suspension.
