Messy dressing room costs northern Ontario hockey team a title series — and possible trip to provincial finals

A early days hockey team up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., says it was forced to waive a conference championship-deciding biz after being accused of leaving its dressing room in a messy state.

The Soo Jr. Greyhounds, an under-18 AA team, were scheduled to play the final match of their best-of-three series against the Copper Cliff Reds at the community centre in Blind River two weekends ago. The teams compete in the Nickel District Minor Hockey League.

But after Game 2, the Jr. Greyhounds received an email from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA), stating Game 3 was being postponed due to the condition of their dressing room.

Within 48 hours of that message, the Jr. Greyhounds said the NOHA sent a followup email that escalated the postponement to a forced forfeit.

“The league said the cancellation set in motion a chain of events that ultimately made it impossible for the series to be completed,” said Lindsay Fera, the team's manager.

“This occurred without ever speaking to the team. I find that concerning.”

For now, Copper Cliff has been awarded the regional championship and is set to go on to compete in next weekend’s provincial tournament. 

The Jr. Greyhounds say they're appealing the NOHA's decision to Hockey Canada. 

Fera said her team accepted full responsibility for the unorganized dressing room and issued an apology to the Town of Blind River. 

“While the room was certainly untidy with water bottles, a towel and some hockey tape, it definitely wasn’t damaged or vandalized," said Fera. 

“A simple phone call certainly could have resulted in the players returning immediately or arriving early the next morning to clean their room — but the team was never contacted.”

NOHA has declined to comment, saying “the matter is under appeal.”

According to Fera, NOHA has also suspended contact with the team because the matter “relates to a game outcome.”

Blind River Mayor Sally Hagman said the town and arena staff received a letter from a Jr. Greyhounds player on behalf of the team. 

“We recognize our actions created unnecessary work for arena staff who spent additional time cleaning up after us, which never should have been their responsibility,” the letter read. “We are deeply sorry.”

Hagman said she was impressed by the letter and has accepted the team’s apology. 

Although the town has no say over the forfeit decision, Hagman said she felt sorry for the Jr. Greyhounds. 

“It’s ultimately not the town’s decision. As a facility, we have to respect [NOHA’s] decision.”

Fera said the town has offered up its arena if the decisive third game eventually gets the green light.

The Jr. Greyhounds' team manager noted that a Hockey Canada decision could take weeks — well after the provincial championship is set to wrap up. 

“They’re equipped to accept a loss on the ice, but they’re not equipped to deal with a season that just ends via email — especially when they’ve done what they can to own the situation and rectify it.”

In a media release this week, assistant captain Adam Stevens said this was the final opportunity for many of his teammates to compete together.

“We want the chance to represent ourselves, our team and the game of hockey in the right way,” he said. “It was exciting to be going into Game 3 of a tied three-game series for the championship and we were ready to accept the outcome — win or lose.”

Reporter

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

---

---