GOJHL on pause for at least three weeks
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is on standby for at least the next three weeks after the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) announced it is pausing all in-person programming in conjunction with the province of Ontario’s return to a modified Step 2 of the Reopening Plan.
As a result, the GOJHL was mandated to pause its regular season beginning Jan. 5 through Jan. 26, 2022, which also includes the GOJHL Showcase.
According to a statement on the league’s website, the league is currently working on finalizing various contingency plans to prepare for all possible scenarios that COVID-19 pandemic, omicron variant and Ontario government restrictions could present post-Jan. 26. These scenarios, including potential plans for a re-scheduled GOJHL Showcase, will be released to the public once confirmed.
“We are following the mandated direction from the Ontario government and will announce all potential scenarios once finalized by our members. Completing our full 2021-22 GOJHL regular season and playoff schedule safely is our top priority,” GOJHL Commissioner Brent Garbutt said. “We wish the Ontario government would continue to review the many sport organizations, including the GOJHL, who have implemented comprehensive safety plans and mandatory vaccinations for the opportunity to have our athletes continue to work towards their professional and educational aspirations by being designated as an Elite Amateur League.”
Pelham Panthers owner/head coach Tim Toffolo is furious with the provincial government’s designation of the GOJHL.
“There’s no question it’s (lockdown) what we have to do; however, I strongly disagree with the government of Ontario with how they are handling this,” Toffolo said. “We are elite amateurs, and when I look at the extent of what our organization has done to comply and make sure we have gone over and above and beyond the make sure our kids are safe, I question the government and what they are doing.
“Our kids are vying for D3 and D1 scholarships, or USPORT, and yet this government can just sweep across the board and not look at the mental health aspect of it for these young people. Our facility would let us practice there if we were elite amateurs, if we were considered that.”
Toffolo said the Panthers have followed provincial guidelines to a tee.
“Where is my opportunity to show what we do and we should be able to be on the ice, even if it’s on a team-by-team basis?” he said. “We should be able to prove that. I don’t like that we cannot submit an application to have someone come and see what we’re doing.”
Toffolo isn’t convinced play will resume in three weeks.
“We hope and pray it’s only 21 days,” he said. “We’ve trusted this government all the way along. We’re shut down for 21 days but where’s your mass vaccination centres? Are you mass vaccinating a quarter of a million people a day with boosters? Are you set up with that? We’re not hearing or seeing any of that.”
St. Catharines Falcons general manager Frank Girhiny also questions the government’s classifications of hockey leagues. The Ontario Hockey League has been classified as an Elite Amateur League and is tentatively proceeding with games this week. However, the GOJHL and university sports were not classified as elite.
“They didn’t classify OUA sports as elite and the OUA is more elite than the OHL,” Girhiny said, noting many OUA players come from the OHL to continue their careers.
The Falcons sit in second place in the Golden Horseshoe Conference with a 21–5-0-1 record. Their .796 winning percentage is tied for second with Kitchener-Waterloo behind league-leading Hamilton who have won 23 of 26 (.885).
Girhiny said the pause could make things difficult heading forward.
“We’re looking at adding a player or two and now can we do that?” he said.
Dear reader. If you liked this story or one of the 3,800 other stories found on our website, please consider hitting the Support Us button on the right-hand side of our home page and making a PayPal contribution to our website. Your support would be much appreciated. If you are a business owner, please consider advertising on our site. Our rates are reasonable and we provide plenty of exposure for your business. Contact bpotrecz@outlook.com for more information.
