Firstly, on behalf of Matt Paget and David Schwarz, we would like to welcome you to the 2024/2025 White Division season. Matt Paget will be our co-convenor and David Schwarz will be our pool convenor. Saying that, all 3 of us are involved in all the division decision making.
Thank you caps, Ass. Caps for stepping up, relaying the convenors messages to the team, trying to keep your team safe, organized and ensuring our number 1 priority is having fun!
I have been in the BOHC and this division for 16 years, Ass. Capped, captain for 6+ years, poolie, co-convenor for 5 years and now starting my second year as convenor. I have been running weekly shinny for about the same amount of time and been playing at the Wave in an open/18 or older, ‘slash first’ division for the last 7 years in summer and winter. I have been asked to fight each season and about 4 weeks ago was the latest time. I am telling you this because I have seen all types of hockey, I understand completely what raises the on-ice temperature and how things can get escalated. The shinny I run is competitive, everyone wants to score but never an on-ice disagreement or issue. With all these experiences and all your help, I know we can find that perfect balance between compete and fun. I have a ton of buddies in this division, the last thing we want is for this division to start gravitating into a chippy ‘Wave’ type environment. Respect for all of our division mates, is key!
Once again, we want to Eliminate the cross check, as this ugly and nasty play can easily result in an injury and/or retaliation and is not needed in the BOHC. There are other ways to move someone and a rabbit punch with a horizontal stick, against a division mate’s back or shoulders, should not be one of them. Matt, David and I will be keeping a close eye for this un-BOHC play, looking to suspend if we see it.
I am sure your captains have already let you know after the C & C meeting, that according to our disciplinary chair, Warren Osbourn, a minimum 7 game suspension will be handed out if a hearing is required involving abuse of officials. This is a stiff punishment, but the reasoning behind it is that the officials are sick and tired of the abuse and are quitting. If you get or see 20 bad calls throughout the season, I can ensure you that half will be in your favour and half against. Leave the refs alone, the calls all balance out!!
The club has invested in ‘Live Barn’ and as a convenor, the best thing to happen, what a great tool. All us convenors have to do is request the clip. We will have the ability to slow down the skating….even more….lol…. zoom in to have a better look at a questionable play, with sound. Add to that, there is talk that the club will start showing games on one of the TV’s when you get back there. It would be pretty embarrassing to watch a cheap, dirty play on another BOHC’er while trying to enjoy beers back at the club.
As mentioned last season, I need you all to recognize when a division mate that you are chasing is in a vulnerable spot on the ice and dial back your intensity/RPM for a second or two, to allow your division mate to get into a safer position. For example, the player you are chasing is skating perpendicular to the boards, might not be the time to try and dig the puck out from his skates. He may step on your stick and end up headfirst into the boards.
We want zero ‘In Person Hearings’ with the BOHC Disciplinary Chair and zero suspensions. We understand that there will be competitiveness in our games but we need you all to understand where the ‘too much intensity line’ is, so as to not cross it. I will need all your help with that!!
After an accidental bump on the ice, there is a 5 letter, Canadian word that can easily throw water on any kind of fire and seems to instantly deescalate any potential heated situation. Please use it. S-O-R-R-Y
The club has a bunch of new timekeepers this year, please have patience for them! There are players in this division with kids that are timekeepers, so NO slamming penalty box doors, NO swearing or arguing with someone in the other box as that is just intimidating to the young timekeepers.
The club can also not afford to leave any money on the table, so please, please let you captain know, with enough time to allow him to let the pool convenor plan for a replacement.
That is all for now, good luck, play safe and have fun.
Paddy, Matt and David
