Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

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Chemo

Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

Post by Chemo »

http://www.lfpress.com/sports/hockey/20 ... 29806.html

Junior hockey is returning to Dorchester.

The Ontario Hockey Association has given the community a Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League franchise.

The Dolphins will begin play in September on their new ice surface being built at the arena.

"We as a community have been trying to get a junior hockey team for a number of years,'' said Dolphins' director of hockey operations Bruce Schruder. "But given that we had only one ice pad, it was impossible to allocate enough time for a junior team."

Dorchester has had a history in the OHA. The Dolphins played Southern intermediate B in 1976. In 1987, the league was upgraded to senior A and by 1992 it was called the Southwestern Ontario senior A league. In 1995, the Dolphins were one of only five senior teams left in Ontario. They stopped operating a year later.

"Dorchester minor hockey has always been very successful over the last few years," Schruder said. "There's always been a lot of talent in the area not only at the playing level but the coaching level as well."

The Dolphins become the 16th team in the SOJHL. Right now there are three, five-team divisions. Schruder doesn't know which division the Dolphins will be placed in, but with 16 teams, the league might restructure.

Schruder was concerned some of the teams in Dorchester's immediate area would oppose a new franchise.

"We didn't know how much of an influence the neighbouring teams would have but when all was said and done, there must have been overwhelming support. There's so much hockey talent in the city of London and surrounding area. It's really easy to ice another competitive team."

The Dolphins are owned by a group of five Dorchester residents: president Paul Vandenbosch, Chris Willsie, Reini Simonis, John Lawson and Mike McLellan.

Dave McLeod, a former Dolphin player is general manager and Jeff McKay, another former Dolphin, will coach.

McKay, 46, coached in the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs system and Dorchester minor hockey. He was raised in Dorchester.

"We're all excited, the whole community is excited," McKay said. "I think the biggest challenge will be to be competitive off the bat. Like all expansion franchises, no matter what franchise, it will be a challenge to get some of the best players."

McKay said while there are a number of top players from Dorchester, they're already with other teams. He said the goal is to get word out that the team has been established with the hope these players decide to play at home.

"It's 'get the word out. If you want to come, come.' We're going to be playing in a state of the art facility with a beautiful dressing room," McKay said. "This is a very attractive place to play. With a strong ownership we're going to treat the boys with the respect they deserve and run it as a first-class organization."

The Dolphins have an evaluation camp July 10-11 at the Western Fair Sports Centre.

"We see some early year challenges," McKay said. "If we could get four or five of those guys who want to come home, we'll have something to build on right off the bat."

Getting Dorchester players to play at home is the main reason for the team, along with giving back to the community.

"We made this for the kids," Schruder said. "All owners and management are passionate about hockey and been in Dorchester for a long, long, long time."
richard
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Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:52 pm

Re: Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

Post by richard »

It is nice to see but the calibre of play will decrease with all the teams (too many)in the area but should make for good rivalries.
Chemo

Re: Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

Post by Chemo »

apparently the oha hasnt followed its own rules when it comes to the 50km rule within another center,
4 teams from the niagara west had voted against the dorchester team but the oha still approved them
richard
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:52 pm

Re: Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

Post by richard »

Yes, the OHA Board is a strong outfit and with one vote can ruin a number of teams for the good of something!
richard
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:52 pm

Re: Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

Post by richard »

regarding todays london free press article about the proposed Dorchester team.

As stated before, the OHA board is a powerful outfit. If they wish to impose something that is not allowed by their own OHA rule book (encroachment rule) they will either try to overturn this previously passed OHA rule for the good of the game (as per OHA Board's thinking) or failing that as Per John Simmons comments the OHA Board will now go back and try to change the rule to suit their present day thinking but are they thinking about future consequences.

It is my opinion Dorchester needs to settle with Thamesford, Aylmer, and Woodstock. The same way Central Elgin Jr D settled up with West Lorne a number of years ago to allow a team to return to Port Stanley.

It is time for the OHA to make drastic changes to their whole setup.
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Blades
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Re: Dorchester gets home-grown franchise

Post by Blades »

Volunteers built Noah's Ark, professionals built the Titanic
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