BC Hockey's decision to punish the BCHL for leaving their association is having negative effects on minor hockey associations throughout BC. Any player, staff, or referee who chooses to stay with the BCHL is not allowed to participate in BC Hockey events which includes Minor Hockey association volunteers, staff, and referees. Although BC Hockey has provided a pathway for exemptions in their Non-Sanctioned League Policy, it has proven to be a long, drawn out process and it does not provide a solution to our biggest issue which is an exemption for officials to work in sanctioned and non-sanctioned hockey.

This directly impacts youth in BC because without an adequate number of volunteers, associations will have to cancel games and tournaments. Some divisions could even fold due to lack of help.

The Greater Trail Minor Hockey Association is an example of this. We already struggle to find enough referees, especially at the U15 and U18 levels and due to BC Hockey's decision, we have lost 8 high level referees for the upcoming season. GTMHA is strongly considering canceling our rep tournaments at all levels as well as house tournaments in U15 and U18. With a depleted pool of officials, we cannot provide our association or teams traveling to our tournaments with adequate staff.  

In addition, the current BC Hockey policy is going to prevent our local BCHL team, The Trail Smoke Eaters, from assisting in minor hockey. Traditionally, the Smoke Eaters players and staff members have assisted as on-ice helpers for all divisions and have volunteered to help with special needs skaters within our association.

Through a long-standing relationship with the Smoke Eaters, we have been able to offer affordable skills development programs. The current BC Hockey policy jeopardizes this, further penalizing kids and their families.

The impacts will be felt, not only in Trail, but in many minor hockey associations throughout the province. 

Tell BC Hockey to stop their actions that are detrimental to minor hockey associations by immediately revoking their prohibition of people associated with the BCHL from participating in minor hockey.