Hockey players benched by teacher job action to hit the ice again

Hundreds of high school hockey players benched by the teachers' job action will soon be back on the ice as Hockey Nova Scotia rushes to establish alternate leagues.

"We just really felt that it was our job, our mandate, to provide an opportunity for them to play hockey and not miss out on their hockey season," said Hockey Nova Scotia executive director Darren Cossar.

Due to the Nova Scotia Teachers Union's work-to-rule job action, all school sports run through the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation have been suspended.

To fill the void, Hockey Nova Scotia is planning new regional leagues for current high school players who have no other place to play. Jan. 12 is the registration deadline, with league play expected to begin shortly after that.

Cossar said he ultimately hopes the Nova Scotia government and the teachers union can reach a deal and the league won't be necessary.

Focus on teams for boys

Teams in the new leagues will be able to play for provincial titles, but rosters will not necessarily be identical to high school teams. Parents and players are encouraged to contact their local minor hockey association to register as soon as possible. The players will be covered by Hockey Canada insurance.

The new divisions will focus primarily on boys. That's because the vast majority of girls who play high school hockey also already play on Hockey Nova Scotia teams.

"A lot of them already have another opportunity to play," said Cossar. "But for those who do not, we will work with them to try and find an available spot on a female minor hockey team."

The high school hockey season was well underway before work-to-rule was instituted earlier this month, and the job action has had a major impact on many teams.

Some have already had to cancel tournaments, whether on the road or hosting at home. The Dartmouth High School Spartans recently decided to cancel their 12-team City of Lakes tournament scheduled to run Jan. 6 to Jan. 8.

"We had to notify the other teams that we couldn't host the tournament because of the labour uncertainty," said Dartmouth High coach Peter Gallant.

"I think it's the first time in 38 years that the tournament hasn't run, so it's quite a setback for us and now we're just trying to determine what is the next best course of action for us moving forward."

Lingering questions

Gallant said he's happy to see Hockey Nova Scotia step up to try and find a place for high school players to play. But there are still many questions he needs answered. He said some of his players have already played three years at the midget level and may not be eligible for the new league.

"Because of their birthdates they are finished with minor hockey, according to the framework of Hockey Canada," said Gallant.

"So I'm not sure if those kids will be eligible to play in this new league and those are the kind of things we are trying to get answers to because I have four kids in that situation."