ALLAN CUP HOCKEY 2017-18 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALLAN CUP HOCKEY 2017-18 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) group today announced that the Thorold Athletics have applied for a one year Leave of Absence. Citing player challenges, the team expressed their profound disappointment at such a late withdrawal, countered with an earnest promise to regroup and reorganize for the 2018-19 season.
In an effort to ensure that their remaining players still had an opportunity to participate in the league for the upcoming season, the league conducted a draft of eligible players, in the reverse order of finish of last season’s regular league standings.
The results of the player draft are as follows:
Hamilton Steelhawks
Steven Dol
Colin Dunne
Kaine Geldart
Brad Jackson
Spencer Turcotte
Dundas Real McCoys
Jonathan D’Ilario
Anthony Geldart
John Martin
Anthony Scornaienchi
Tyler Turcotte
Brantford Blast
Daniel Bartek
Ryan Cirillo
John Falzoi
Blake Kerling
Zak McQuade
Whitby Dunlops
Ken Bradford
Pat Conte
Ben MacAskill
Chris Risi
Stoney Creek Generals
Mitch Dumont
Derek Nichols
Brandon Roshko
Brandon O’Quinn
Thorold’s exodus created a requirement to redraft the original six team schedule, with five teams.
At their meeting on September 13th, held at the OHA office in Cambridge, the teams approved a five team, 24 game, balanced schedule, beginning October 14th with Brantford at Stoney Creek and finishing on February 24th with Stoney Creek playing at Whitby. The 2017-18 schedule will feature holiday season games on December 29th with Stoney Creek at Dundas, and December 30th with Stoney Creek at Whitby. The full schedule will be available on the ACH website in the next week.
Other ACH News:
The league reviewed the current Allan Cup tournament format and made recommendations to assist the OHA and OHF in their deliberations with Hockey Canada’s new national Allan Cup competition committee, to bring more structure to the event.
ACH Commissioner Brent Ladds expressed that “the ACH League has an earnest desire to bring more structure, and build the Allan Cup Championship in a manner consistent with other Hockey Canada national championships.”
“It is one of the most prolific and iconic hockey championships in Canada, and we want to work alongside the OHA, OHF, and Hockey Canada, to bring the prestige once associated with winning the Cup, back on behalf of the players, and certainly, the communities who provide so much support and put so much energy into the Allan Cup program locally, on an annual basis.”
The league has also adopted a 17 player roster for all games this season. It is felt that the reduction in roster size will provide first line players with more opportunity on the ice, and provide fans with a better game experience.
