New OHA Rule Could Impact Powerhouse Junior C Teams
Brayden Hopkins of the Blenheim Blades would have been considered a “drop down” player by the OHA’s new rule – Photo by the Blenheim Blades
The rule, will limit PJHL Junior C teams from registering more than 4 “drop down” players at a time.
By definition, a drop down player this season will be 19-years-old or older, and having previously played, or been registered with a Junior B or Junior A team for two seasons. The rule does not apply to affiliate players for Junior A and B teams.
Locally, the impact appears to be small. The Blenheim Blades last season had the highest total, and were still compliant, having John Montgomery, Austin Bentley, and Brayden Hopkins as the only “drop down” players on their roster, to have registered at a higher level for two seasons, and be 19 or older.
Just up the 401 however, multiple examples of violation to the rule can be seen. The Dorchester Dolphins had 8 players who would have been considered “drop down” on their roster at some point during the 2016-2017 season, including Chatham’s Jay Ritchie. The Ayr Centennials, another powerhouse, had 9 “drop down” players.
On the converse, the Essex 73s, a perennial powerhouse in the PJHL Stobbs Division (formerly the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League), have almost always filled their roster with locally developed players, having almost no “drop down” players rostered in recent seasons.
Examples of players leaving Junior B to access Junior C’s overage season are seen each year, as the overage limit in Junior B is 20, and Junior C allows four 21-year-olds per roster.
The new rule aims to support Junior C as a developmental program.
that is fair for all teams .hopefully more home town players, back to grass roots.