Heather Wright/The Independent

The Petrolia and East Lambton minor hockey associations are looking at joining forces to keep players close to home.

Mike Nesdoly, president of the Petrolia Minor Hockey Association says talks have been going on behind the scenes for about two years to form a new association. Monday, both associations posted an announcement on social media advising parents they’ll be holding public meetings later this month to explain the plan.

Nesdoly says the two minor hockey associations will remain intact under a new umbrella association. Families who want their players in local leagues will continue to be able to go to their hometown arenas.

Families who are looking for strong rep teams, will be able to be involved in new rep opportunities as the two leagues form a larger ‘A’ centre.

Nesdoly says the Ontario Minor Hockey Association has been helping rural hockey groups with reorganizations like this in the last two years.

“Small town centres are really looking to make sure that they can remain and have the strong programming that they’ve always had,” he tells The Independent.

There have been a couple of drivers behind the decision, including the recent OMHA rule which allows families to join any minor hockey association they want.

“They’ve opened up the borders, allowing any player to go to any team without any residential details. Those have added some challenges specifically to small town hockey,” says Nesdoly.

“This is just another adaptation to allow players that are interested in staying locally to have that capability and remain to have that strong organizational presence and a place for them to be able to play.

The head of the PMHA says it also offers the opportunity for “some of the players that are looking to expand their skill sets to not have to drive 45 minutes to an hour to find a centre where their skills will be equally adapted to and matched with teams that are there.”

East Lambton Minor Hockey Association President Tim Lehrbass says the new OMHA rule which requires teams to be 15 players is also a factor for the talks to form a regional group.

“With the new rules with OMHA,-they have to have 15 kids to a roster. That makes us have to add more kids to a team. Some age groups, it’s kids that we don’t have. So, we have neighbouring community with Petrolia, and they share the same sentiment,” Lehrbass says adding he’s not sure its the right move because smaller teams give players more ice time.

“You’d have kids going out on the ice every other shift instead of every three or four shifts. It just keeps kids – especially at the younger ages, – moving.”

Lehrbass says its hard to keep a nine-year-old engaged “when they sit for eight minutes of a 10-minute period.
“It’s hard on all small town hockey. OMHA is doing their best to make everybody wish they lived in Toronto, I guess.”

Lehrbass says it is all part of the evolution of small town hockey noting the Watford and Alvinston associations merged to form East Lambton in the past. “They joined so that we could stay competitive, and we did. We’ve been very successful at East Lambton. “

Nesdoly is confident the new system will allow local leagues to thrive and make the local rep teams more attractive.

And he says there is a commitment to provide more training for hockey students at all levels.

“We want to make sure we’re maintaining Petrolia Minor Hockey for Petrolia Minor Hockey,” he says “maintain the capability of having both a strong program that is locally fed from Petrolia, and as well have that ability for players to play in that local league if they’re interested.”

Both minor hockey associations plan open house meetings for parents in late October.

There will also be votes at the minor hockey boards and among the parent groups before the proposal goes to the OMHA for approval.

If it isn’t approved, the region will have to wait two years before trying a restructured centre again.

It appears the Lambton Shores Predators Minor Hockey Association is considering a similar move, saying on its website; “Our priority is to build a strong future for LSMHA, with a clear vision that supports our players, families and the continued growth of competitive hockey in Lambton Shores.”

Nesdoly wouldn’t say if Lambton Shores was working with Petrolia and East Lambton on the project citing confidentiality commitments.