state of affairs
Your words are well taken, in the last couple of years if my memory is right, there was 4, I can check and let you know exactly how many. but your right on alot aspects, but I think that is also due, to the fact that like some prep schools popping up now, they are really based on european kids, I think you will start seeing a swing going the other way.
A good amount of prep schools/independent programs, their core was built around the dollar sign , not education and development.
As for a lot kids not reaching their goals, there I have to disagree with you, because it is the other way for us, I do not lie to them, I lay on the line, so my players for the most part set realistic goals and they understand why they are doing this. That is why the majority of players I help play hockey longer.
I really believe as parents begin to educate themselves, they will start to realize that playing with a certain team sometimes lacks the benefits they were looking for, no matter what level you label it. and that a team having your rights for four years can be destructive to your options, as you know teams are asking a lot more than they used to for PDF fees, and some organisations see it as an extra avenue to make money. and they totally ignore the consequences for the players.
Also with the new Ontario law for families making $50000- university is free in Ontario. will also change things.
But do not misunderstand what I am saying, the Chl is a very good option, but there are also other ones out there. It is a numbers game, there are a lot of talented players in Eastern Ontario, and for majority of them, If there going to player Junior A hockey, it will have to be away from home, in some cases it is not because of lack of talent.
My biggest concern is you can actually see a correlation between a drop(boys side) to the branches exercising more power over the years within hockey Canada. and the focus should start being directed, at out of the box ways to keep kids in hockey and somewhere down the line there has to be a balance between money decisions, and the love of the sport decisions. to me personally, making an extra $10000, is less important than having 10 productive human beings entering society as young adults.
I loved Hockey Canada, it gave me a lot, it help shape me into the person I am Now. but unfortunately people are allowed to disagree and have different opinions and somewhere it became a try to discredit, attack threaten anyone who goes against the powers that be. Again I emphasize not hockey Canada but some branches. But I still have to look at Hockey Canada, because they have become facilitators to what some branches are doing.
As for scouts, not being able to attend, again not an opinion but a fact, we had no issues attracting attention, if you do not believe me, just ask any of the families you meet in the rinks that played with us. and next year it will be even better, being a part of the Ejepl.