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te i © Aaa els Don Lawrence * Sports editor * OHA ruling needed comes to hea by Don Lawrence Sports Editor Todd Clarke of Balm Beach has been put into a very compromising position because of the recent filing of a complaint by Midland Centennials Jr. C hockey club regarding the eligibility of several players on Penetanguishene Junior Kings. Clarke was one of three players that Midland felt should be playing in Midland. According to Midland Centennials' executive, Paul Goodine, Bradley Copeland and Todd Clark all should have signed in Midland. Clarke was the only one released to Midland on the directions of the Ontario Hockey Association. Goodine and Copeland were kept in Penetanguishene as automatic waivers. -Pen rivalry ~ Wey Ruling Regulation 261 section of the OHA's constitution states that, "'A player eligible but not resident in a municipality with a team entered in any category, shall be given a choice of the team he will play for: a) When the difference in the distance from his residence to the two or more municipalities Squeeze play coming up! Noel McEachern of Midland Centennials Jr. C hockey club found it to be a tight squeeze in Friday night's game in Midland Centennial Arena .against Gravenhurst Indians. Despite Gravenhurst's attempts at stopping the Centennials from crossing Don Lawrence sports editor The recent player disagreement between Midland Centennials hockey club and Penetanguishene Kings hockey club brought to light just how evident politics can be, even in amateur hockey. Midland Centennials protested the eligibility of three players. on the Pe ietanguishene squad, stating that they ~hould be playing in Midland. Paul Goodine, Todd Clark and Bradley Copeland were those three players. The OHA stepped in and gave their decision that the Kings would have to release one player to play in Midland, the other two staying in Penetanguishene as automatic waivers. This is clearly a case where the rules have stated that a player must play in the area closest to his residence unless he lives in a right of choice area. Basically, this is wrong because the decision by the OHA gives the Centennials an area of recruitment much larger than that of the Kings. Midland has a population of 12,000 as op- posed to that of Penetanguishene.at 5,400. Midland also has the option of choosing players from Port McNicoll with a population of 1.900, Victoria Harbour with 1,200, Tay Township with 6,100, Tiny Township with 6,400.and Elmvale with 1,000. This makes for a possible selection of plavers from a total of 28,600. Penetanguishene, on the other hand can choose from their own town of 5,400 plus some plavers in the Elmvale area which the Kings must compete with Barrie, Angus, Stayner and Midland for their signing. In this case, the rule has definitely hurt Penetanguishene. It seems to me that this rule could have been stretched a little considering the situation. After all, this is an uncommon case, especially since Penetanguishene is cut off to the north by the shores of Georgian Bay. And yet, it seems almost unfair that the player's feelings were not taken into con- sideration, If the player had chosen to play for Penetanguishene, they should be allowed to play for Penetanguishene. Rules are often unfair and it's very strange that this can happen since rules are supposed to help, not hurt. Sure, the rule works for some places but not all situations hold standard textbook con- ditions. Midland is certainly not hurting for area of choice when it comes to signing players. Penetanguishene has really been squeezed in by this rule and this should have been taken into consideration by the OHA. Rules are good, but they can cause problems when they are followed too exactly. Flexibility is necessary anywhere. People change, situations change and rules must change. What do you think? Sean Mcllravey was Hat trick didn't turn the trick in Midland Centennial Mcllravey's first two Adam Bourgeois and the star of the game between Clark Mac- ~ donald and Summer Trophies of Midland Minor Hockey Association Novice House League Saturday Arena as he scored all of his team's three goals. However, it wasn't enough as his team, Summer's Trophies went down to defeat by a score of 4-3. goals were unassisted, the third one assisted by Doug Summers. For Clark Mac- donald, Mark Bottineau was the big gun with two goals. assists going to J.J. Pauze on respective goals. Robbie Gruber scored unassisted for Clark MacDonald _ while Robbie Desroches did the same for their goal. their blue line, Midland won the game with a whopping 7-0 score. Confusion continues despite OHA decision The situation between Midland Centennials and Penetanguishene Kings over the playing rights of Todd Clarke has been settled but the confusion continues. Peter Dubeau, Manager of Penetanguishene Kings has been suspended by the OHA and will have his hearing Dec. 13 when he will be able to present a defence. Dubeau -had_ been informed by the OHA that one of the three in question in Midland's protest would have to sit out a game until a decision had _ been reached. Dubeau, however, says that they told him by telephone and that he received no _ letter stating this as pointed out in the OHA con- stitution. A protest by Parry Sound Shamrocks had been filed, claiming that the game played during the time which Dubeau was not to have played one player should be forfeited to them. It was not submitted in the prescribed time period though, and therefore dismissed. Dubeaureceived a letter in the mail yesterday, dated Nov. 27, stating that a league- wide poll had shown that the majority of the league's players felt Paul Goodine should be signed as a clear player concerned does not exceed five miles;"' Paul Goodine was deemed to travel 3.1 miles to the corporaté limits ot Midland while he would have to travel 9.4 miles to the corporate limits of Penetanguishene. Bradley Copeland travels 4.7 miles to the corporate limits of Midland and 11.0 miles to the corporate limits of Penetanguishene. Todd Clarke was said to travel 1.8 miles to the corporate limits of Midland but he would have to travel 8.1 miles to the corporate limits of Penetanguishene. This meant that all three should have signed in Midland because they were within the allowed distance of Midland as their playing team from their residence. They all live too far away 1 P Gp iva Penetanguishene' to play there, exceeding the five mile right of choice. Defence Midland Centennials' protest was received by the OHA Oct. 16 and Penetanguishene filed their statement of defence Oct. 29. Penetanguishene Kings' executive stated that Paul Goodine has played with Penetanguishene for the last two seasons. Furthermore, they said that he had moved to Penetanguishene for work and to play hockey in the month of June, 1980. Brad Copeland and Todd Clarke are both in their first year of junior eligibility and it was assumed that both were in the right of choice area by the Kings. The Kings' executive felt that there is an ambiguous wording to rule number 261 of the OHA's regulations. According to that rule, "distance shall be determined by the mileage from his residence' to the Corporate limits of the municipalities involved over a public road."' Penetanguishene's executive stated that this was not necessarily the shortest route that could be taken by either Clarke and Copeland. By using a route over highway 27 and then north to Penetanguishene, Clarke and Copeland were entitled to right of choice due to the reduced distance between the west limits of Midland and the south limits of Penetanguishene. That distance would only be 1.6 miles. Penetanguishene also felt that the committee for the OHA should consider eliminating the WP) mile stretch comprising the industrial development outside Midland. They also asked that a seven mile right of choice area be lookedjat for Penetanguishene. Because Goodine had moved to Penetanguishene, the Kings' executive believed he should be a clear player. The committee did not agree with that belief. Territorial rights Population figures for Penetanguishene _ total 5,400 while Midland has 12,000 residents. That alone gives Midland a wider choice of players to choose from. Ons stopeaot that. Midland can choose from five other outlying areas, Port MecNicoil with 1,900 residents, Victoria Harbour with 1,200 residents, Tay Township with 6,100 residents, Tiny Township with 6,400 residents and Elmvale with 1,000 residents. It was pointed out in Penetanguishene's defence that all of these areas are in Midland's right of choice area, adding that Midland's area also extended halfway to Parry Sound, halfway to Orillia, halfway to Barrie and to Collingwood which has a population of over 12,000 people. @ continued on page 37 Wednesday, December 3, 1980, Page 35