The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Canadian Junior 'A' Hockey League focused on the development of a strategic plan during a May 14-15 meeting in Grande Prairie, Alta. The CJAHL is comprised of 137 teams in 10 member leagues from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. Edmonton Oilers' president and CEO Patrick Laforge contributed in the strategic planning discussions and emphasized his team's support for the CJAHL. Laforge pointed out that nine current Oilers played in the CJAHL and added that four Oilers' captains played at the junior A level. He also shared his knowledge and experiences with working with the community. CJAHL member league presidents and commissioners stressed that all objectives were met with the removal of the red line, for offside passes, in 2003-04. All leagues played without the red line and Hockey Canada provided approval for the Royal Bank Cup national junior A championship, and regional championships, to be played without the red line. The CJAHL members present announced that they were unanimously opposed to Hockey Canada motion 51, which will restrict junior A teams from having 16-year-olds on their rosters as registered players. The Hockey Canada motion will be presented at the association's annual general meeting this weekend in Thunder Bay, Ont. CJAHL presidents and commissioners also expressed their commitment to a Hockey Canada motion to limit teams to a maximum nine 20-year-olds on the game sheet for each game. The CJAHL is planning an enhancement of its web site, at www.cjahl.com, to better serve its teams and three million-plus fans. The CJAHL annual meeting will be Aug. 14 in Ottawa. Proposals for national marketing opportunities will be considered at that time, as will the suggestions that a committee will present regarding the strategic plan. A number of other committees were struck to report to the presidents and commissioners at the annual meeting.
