Hockey Canada

IIHFnation
IIHFnation=Canada
bg_color=red
logo_

organization=Hockey Canada
joined=1920
president=Bob Nicholson
mens_ranking=1
womens_ranking=1
website=http://www.hockeycanada.ca

Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions. It is based in Calgary, Alberta with a secondary office in Ottawa, Ontario.

History

In 1968, the federal government of Canada, formed Hockey Canada to oversee all operations of ice hockey in Canada, including amateur, university and professional. The new organization became responsible for international ice hockey team selection, including Olympic and World Championships, but did not govern ice hockey play within Canada. This changed in July 1994 when Hockey Canada merged with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, which had formed in 1914 to oversee Allan Cup play.

Affiliated Organizations

Hockey Canada has many regional branches across the county:

* British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association
* Hockey Alberta
* Hockey Manitoba
* Hockey New Brunswick
* Hockey Northwestern Ontario
* Hockey Nova Scotia
* Hockey Québec
* Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador
* Hockey North
* Ontario Hockey Federation
* Ottawa District Hockey Association
* Hockey PEI
* Saskatchewan Hockey Association

Hockey Canada also sanctions governing bodies at the Major Junior and Junior "A" levels:
* Canadian Hockey League
* Canadian Junior Hockey League

Independent leagues

Unlike USA Hockey which turns a blind eye to independently ran operations, Hockey Canada does not. In 2005, Hockey Canada made many changes to the minor and junior hockey systems under its control, the "Canadian Development Model", this was not looked upon favourably by all. In 2006, the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League was formed in Ontario and the WHA Junior Hockey League was formed in British Columbia. Both of these leagues operated out of cities unused for junior hockey by Hockey Canada.

Hockey Canada's complaints against independent hockey usually revolve around the fact that they don't have Hockey Canada's insurance policy. [http://www.ohahockey.org/page/show_article/12824/13755] As well, if it is not a Hockey Canada program, then the training by nature must be inferior. [http://www.ohahockey.org/page/show_article/12824/13755] Also, Hockey Canada feels that these two leagues are in direct competition with their program for money and recruits. [http://www.ohahockey.org/page/show_article/12824/13755]

Hockey Canada has placed sanctions to be used against anyone who returns from independent hockey to Hockey Canada. This includes a quarantine-like suspension against the child or young man involved, based on their involvement in independent hockey. [http://www.ohahockey.org/page/show_article/12824/13755] As well, written threats to the communities involved have been sent, alleging that Hockey Canada will not sanction children's tournaments in towns that rent ice to these two junior leagues. [http://www.ohahockey.org/page/show_article/12824/13755] It is not clear if either of these measures would by considered lawful in a Canadian court. In comparison, USA Hockey does not interfere with independent leagues. Also, teams from the GMHL and WHA are permitted to play in USA Hockey sanctioned junior tournaments.

Summer hockey and recreational senior hockey are not under the auspices of Hockey Canada. To date, summer hockey is a massive market and is untouched by Hockey Canada, despite the use of private insurance (like independent leagues). Also, in summer hockey tournaments, the Hockey Canada rulebook is not generally followed, usually replaced by professional league rules. Although Hockey Canada has attempted to make moves into recreational hockey to sell their insurance policies, they have failed to make a dent in a nationwide practice. The increase in recreational hockey in the last 20-years could probably be attributed to the death of the up to seven-tiered senior hockey system that used to grace Canada's rinks in the 1980s.

Another result of the slow death of senior hockey in Canada is the growth of another independent league, the Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League. In existence, free of Hockey Canada control, since 1943, the WOAA now boasts 22 senior hockey teams. Ran under the Hockey Canada rule book, but with stricter import rules, the league is strictly amateur. The WOAA has a "AA", "A", and "B" championship as is very popular in the northern portions of Southwestern Ontario. It is unclear, as of yet, whether or not Hockey Canada will threaten this hockey market, as most WOAA teams have deep community roots including the sponsorship of minor hockey tournaments.

ee also

* Ice Hockey World Championships
* World Junior A Challenge
* World U-17 hockey challenge
* Canadian national men's hockey team
* Canadian national women's hockey team
* Canada national junior hockey team

External links

* [http://www.hockeycanada.ca Hockey Canada website]
* [http://www.iihf.com International Ice Hockey Federation website]