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 Robert
Kirwan, host of The Learning Clinic Radio Show, which is broadcast
live from Laurentian University on CKLU 96.7 FM, hosted a special
After The Whistle show on August 15, 2011 with Gus Lescault,
President of the new Nickel City Hockey Association which ices rep
level teams for players from District 2 of the NOHA.
Gus provided a very detailed explanation
of the history of the development of the NCHA, much of which can be
found on the web site at www.nickelcityhockey.ca
According to the web site, "For
years, Walden MHA & Rayside BMHA have collaborated in fielding
REP teams at the older age groups. Four years ago, both
executive boards considered merging their REP program because of the
continuing decline in the number of players and the sometimes
difficult task to find head coaches and team staffs.
At the same time, Valley East
Progressive HA & Nickel Centre MHA have also collaborated at
various levels in fielding REP teams by amongst other things,
releasing players to each other organization.
A couple of years ago, on May 31st
2009, at a president’s meeting hosted by Andrew MacDonald (NOHA
D.2 Council Director) and attended by Steve Rinneard (RBMHA), Mitch
Loiselle (NCMHA), Gus Lescault (VEPHA) and Yves Laliberté (WMHA)
new cooperation ties were established.
In the Fall 2009, following the
rejection of the AAA merger by the SMHA Board and the expressed
intention of the NCMHA board to stop fielding REP teams, the above
group got back together this time with representatives of the Nickel
City Sons Hockey Club. Our district AAA club was seeking a way
to affiliate players and complete their Elite program by adding
minor teams while the other 4 REP associations was seeking to retain
within district 2 the resources (players & volunteers) from
NCMHA.
Over the following months, all ten
hockey associations (including Capreol MHA, Coniston MHA, Onaping
MHA, Valley East Minor HA, Espanola MHA) within our NOHA district 2
were invited to join the many discussions seeking to find common
ground which would lead to better cooperation in order to develop a
better REP program for the kids in our district.
It was quickly accepted that for the
2010-11 season, 2 minor elite teams at respectively the peewee and
bantam divisions would be offered within the district in order to
keep our players together in a complete AAA stream. NCMHA
hosted these two teams for their first season.
It was also agreed that a pyramidal
team model including AAA-AA-A-B teams, as advocated by Hockey Canada
and adopted by successful hockey Associations should be proposed for
the benefit of all our district players. It is largely
accepted that by streaming players based on ability rather than age
or neighborhood that they will progress and develop better as hockey
players.
Furthermore, in the winter &
spring of 2010, all 6 REP associations (EMHA, NCMHA, NC Sons HC,
RBMHA, VEPHA & WMHA) went back to their membership to seek
opinions and to their executive board to seek approval for a one
year leave of absence from NOHA for their association REP program.
In the Fall of 2010, 9 of the
associations got back together (Espanola MHA, the smallest REP
program with 1 midget team, decided to abstain from merging their
REP program) in order to develop a constitution and pick a name for
the new Association and apply to NOHA for the right to represent all
REP hockey in district 2 commencing with the 2011-12 season.
On January 24th 2011, NOHA
approved our new Association."
| LISTEN
TO THE ENTIRE RADIO SHOW |
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Robert Kirwan, host of The
Learning Clinic Radio Show, featured Gus Lescault, President
of the new Nickel City Hockey Association during the August
15, 2011 program. Gus explained in detail everything a person
would want to know about the new association
LISTEN
TO THE ENTIRE RADIO SHOW BY CLICKING HERE
 |
VIDEO
SERIES OF THE RADIO BROADCAST
The radio show with Gus Lescault that was done
above was also recorded on video and posted on Youtube.
If you would prefer to "watch" the radio
interview, you can do so by clicking on the following
links: |
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