Views from Section 8 - AAA Peewee Yes or No?

"Views from Section 8" is a new column written by Don "Butch" Turcotte. The former Trappers Junior "A" coach and father of Skyhawks head coach Darren Turcotte will be chiming in with his thoughts here on BayToday.ca. Enjoy!

So there is talk about a Major AAA team in the area. That is good news for sure. After watching a couple of Bantam Blades games versus the Sault and Timmins clarifies my thoughts. We can compete against Timmins but not the Sault. My reasons are as follows:

1. The Timmins Bantam team and the North Bay Bantam teams are in their first year of AAA competition.
2. The calibre of the Sault Bantam is stronger than our local Bantams because most of the players on the Sault team have been subject to this level of competition for possibly 3 years.

As a matter of principle, my mind does not allow me to attend Trapper games although I am a fan of the coaches Beau Moyer and Robin Boucher. Likewise the Sault and Sudbury rules at that level and Beau and Robin agree with my reasoning.

I was asked to be part of the AA selection committee for the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association (WFMHA) for AA coaching applications for the 2005-2006 season. The selection committee consisted of Bryon McDonald, Dan Selin, at times Randy Edmonds and myself.

During the interviews at the Peewee (minor and major) and the Bantam (minor and major) I proposed that these age groupings play in the Sudbury District Hockey League (SDHL) at the same grouping as the Sudbury AAA teams. In other words the WFMHA Minor Peewee AA team (11 year old) would play in the same category as the Sudbury Minor Peewee AAA team. It was too late at this particular time to classify the team as AAA and that would happen the following year. All applicants were 100% in favor. McDonald said he would contact the SDHL league to see if that set-up was feasible. A couple of weeks later he told me that everything was in order. I took it on myself to contact the President of the league to see what the chances were. The request was all news to him. He had heard rumours of the idea but NO formal request was made. Go figure and end of story.

Time to bring back the good old days of our elite hockey programs. The days when our gifted hockey athletes faced competition at the highest level, compete in provincial championships and attend tournaments at this level. I remember the days (late 70's to mid 90's) when these programs were available from Major Atom levels and up. Time to gives our boys that chance once again.

We need more than just a Major Peewee AAA team. We need both Peewee, both Bantam and both Midgert levels and if the Northern Hockey Association (NOHA) would allow the Atom Major division. Maybe thoughts should be made to form an association that would cater to these teams. How does North Bay and District Major Hockey Association sound to you? I don't think WFMHA would be terribly upset if they lost the AAA Bantam team to another association.

Oh, the good old days of the local McDonald's and Wingate Lottery Cup AAA tournaments during the last two week-ends of November. Oh, the good old days of the AAA coaching fraternities: Billy and Bob Wright, Lui Ricci, Bruce (do de boards) Cazabon, John Sicotte, Ed Gravelle, Carmen Anello, Tom Diggles, Gord McGuinty, Barry Callahan, Dale Hewitt, Al Moyer, Dean Harvey, Larry Keenan, Dennis Truchon, Rob Hepburn, Todd Robillard, Glenn Cundari, Mike Reynolds, etc....

Let's bring it back for the boys!

THUMBS

Touching festivities at the Sunday evening Skyhawks game by our aboriginal friends and to see the class of the NOJHL Scott Restoule participate in the between first and second mini game.

The presentation of Skyhawk and Sudbury jerseys by Justin Roy and Scott Restoule, respectively, to Jamie Restoule younger brother of Derek Restoule whom was fatally injured in a bike accident this past fall.

One fight rule is a crock in the NOHJL.

The first period of the Sunday's night game was the best period of hockey that I have seen this season.

Brad Norkum was my standout Hawk performer playing as a forward.