Things are about to change for the better as a new season starts for the Sunshine Coast Adult Hockey League (SCAHL).
A player draft weekend has been set for Sept. 17 and 18 with players taking to the ice in three sessions at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre on Saturday night, and the live player draft starting around 6 p.m. the following night, Sunday, at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt.
Gord Clayton, spokesperson for the SCAHL, said with only one division the past few years, the opportunities for some of the younger players on the Coast have been slim.
"The 35-and-over league is well established, but when the men's competitive A-division folded, there was no open division," Clayton said. "That's what we're doing here - re-establishing the open division."
Clayton said the focus is to establish a good brand of recreational hockey that is still competitive, but has an emphasis on participation and having fun.
"We just want to give everyone who wants it an opportunity to play," Clayton said. "We have two rinks now and a great facility in Gibsons, and we have to take advantage of these facilities and make sure they are used."
With the re-establishment of the open division, the 35-and-over division and the 45-and-over division, Clayton sees the SCAHL headed in a great direction.
"This is a good opportunity for guys to get back into hockey and have some fun, friendly competition," he added.
Any player 19 and over is welcome and encouraged to come to Gibsons on Sept. 17 for any of the three player scrimmages. Clayton said the five-team co-ordinators will be in the stands evaluating the players and getting ready for the live draft on Sunday night.
"Each team is allowed to only protect three skaters and a goalie, so the rosters will hopefully have a good mix of new and old faces," Clayton said. "Our hope is that we get 60 or 70 guys out. I think the draft night will be a lot of fun."
Player rep James Hamilton said it was time for a different approach.
"This has been in the works at the association level for quite some time. Really we felt the only way to make the teams fair and even was to have a player draft," Hamilton said. "The problem we had in the past with some of the A-division was that not everyone was necessarily welcome. We want to change that. Now with the draft, we're taking a much different approach -everyone is welcome. It doesn't matter your skill level. I think a year off from hockey was an eye opener for a lot of people. The old ways just won't work anymore."
To find out more about the draft and ice sessions, email [email protected] or check out the SCAHL - open division page on Facebook.
