St. Michael's owner believes when players pay, they make commitment to program continued from p.30 quirements come with a significant price tag. "The standards have now been set. The teams already know what they are. And there are costs associated with that," said Savoy, who was pleased the audit found the league's teams to be approximately 85 per cent compliant. "Teams might have to practise two more times a week at $300 an hour. When you try to elevate standards to make a better product for the athlete, there's a cost. And to our owners' credit, they bought into these increases before these changes (to charge players)." Reputation for having `daddy owners' If perception is everything, the OJHL didn't have a lot going for itself a few short seasons ago. "When I first took over, there was a brand image problem with the OJHL," admitted Savoy, a former Hockey Canada executive who became the OJHL's first full-time commissioner in 2010. Contracting teams was a start. Blowouts were far too commonplace in the league for anyone's liking, particularly scouts who wanted to see best against best. It's difficult to learn much about players in the third period of a blowout. Another perception the OJHL continues to battle is that of a league full of "daddy owners" whose primary motivation for funding teams is to ensure their sons can play in the league. If bloodlines are as important as blue lines, both the quality and the credibility of the league are crippled. Now, it could be argued, the size of people's wallets might also be a factor in which players suit up for OJHL teams next season. "We're looking at the business model of junior A hockey. If the business model is that you'll lose X number of dollars, there won't be many people who are going to line up (to buy a team)," countered Savoy, who estimated six or seven OJHL teams are owned by people with sons in the league. "I have heard the daddy owner thing before. Is (St. Michael's Buzzers owner) Mike McCarron a daddy owner? Well, his son was our top defenceman of the year and is a finalist for top defenceman in the country. (Mike is) a father who owns a team that has a kid in the league. "The days of having kids in the league that can't play in the league are over. The league is so much harder to play in. With 37 teams, you could hide a player or two. You can't hide a player now." McCarron is perhaps the best example of how the pay-to-play model could work in the OJHL. Members of the Buzzers were responsible for offsetting some of the franchise's costs this season (which was "technically allowed" under OHA rules, Savoy said), and McCarron made no secret about it. "When families pay, they make a commitment to your program. If they don't see value I don't want (them) in the room," McCarron tweeted April 10, after the Buzzers won the OJHL championship. "@stmbuzzers proof charging players helps @ojhlofficial teams. Committed families value program. There for right reasons #nobrainer," he tweeted later that day. Attempts to reach McCarron for additional comment were unsuccessful. But the Buzzers' success -- they reached the final of the Dudley Hewitt Cup central Canadian championship tournament, falling one win short of a trip to the RBC Royal Bank Cup nationals -- makes them a blueprint for other teams, Harvey believes. "It's all about the program," said the Blades GM, adding that minor midget and midget rep hockey -- the step before junior A -- costs more than some OJHL teams might charge next season. "We already offer a great program, and we're adding more to it next year. I think it's the value the players are getting. It's not just playing a junior A schedule, it's all the other things these players are getting as well." Resistance not surprising Not everyone sees it that way. One team, the Newmarket Hurricanes, has been openly opposed to the implementation of a pay-toplay policy, though the club politely declined the opportunity to comment on the subject. "Although you are correct in that our organization opposes pay-to-play at the Jr. A level, at this time we cannot comment on this situation," Maurice Catenacci, Newmarket's vice-president and GM, replied to a Beaver email seeking the Hurricanes' position on pay to play. "I'm sorry and hope you understand, we've been asked to refrain from divulging any information at the present time." Fabbri sees several logistical issues to charging players next season. "I think ice time's a huge thing... It's kind of unfair for a guy not playing as much as another person but paying the same amount. The OHL is free for everyone, so if you're a fourth liner, you can't say... `Why am I not getting the same ice as this guy?'" said Fabbri, who is undecided whether he'll return to the OJHL next year. "I also think competition will be a bit watered down. Some of the better players might not have the money to pay and be forced to another league. It may not be as competitive." Both Harvey and Savoy understand there will be resistance to the OJHL's change in policy. But, they say, it is a necessary evil. "This wasn't an overnight decision. We put a lot of time and effort into this. The standards have to be there, and the teams have to make sure they're providing a good product," Savoy said. "At the end of the day, we have to look at fixing the model. Our teams are losing money. What do we do? Do we let the business die or do we adapt it?" he questioned. Letting it die is not an option to Harvey and many others. "Can Canada really exist without junior hockey in these communities? (Teams) are a big part of the history of communities, in the same way that there are buildings you can't knock down. I think people need to look at junior hockey in the same kind of category," Harvey said. "(The Blades) are part of the history of Oakville. This team has been here a long time. If the team does more within the community and brings more local kids onto the team, is that worth anything? The answer might be no, and people say too bad, but it won't be long before these clubs aren't able to exist. "The days of when you're a junior player, it's a free ride -- those days are over." -- Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports 31 | Thursday, May 16, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The Oakville Vytis major midget boys easily won a recent basketball tournament in Etobicoke.| photo submitted Vytis major midgets dominant in Etobicoke Four lopsided victories earned the Oakville Vytis Break major midget boys' basketball team the championship at a recent AA tournament in Etobicoke. Oakville crushed the Toronto Crush 7440 in the final, with Stef Rakic's 18 points leading a Break attack that saw all players score at least one point. The rout came despite the fact that Oakville was without two of its main cogs, Evan Vannier and Dante DaSilva, due to injury. In Oakville's other games, it downed Etobicoke 91-43, Durham Knights 72-45 and Newmarket IEM 69-25. Christian Critelli (21 points) and Mitchell Saunders (13) led the Break versus Etobicoke, Ross Perri scored 18 and Scott Henderson and Vannier added 12 each against Durham, and Aman Ari had a game-high 15 points against Newmarket. Other key contributors to the title win were Billy McPherson and Jake Szpakowski. FUTURE SHOP CORRECTION NOTICE NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE FUTURE SHOP MAY 10 CORPORATE FLYER On page 8 of the May 10 flyer, the Panasonic Three-Handset Cordless Phone (KXTG4713B) (WebCode: 10244211) was advertised with an incorrect description. Please be advised that this cordless phone includes THREE handsets NOT FOUR, as previously advertised. FUTURE SHOP CORRECTION NOTICE NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE FUTURE SHOP MAY 10 CORPORATE FLYER On page 17 of the May 10 flyer, the Epson Powerlite 710HD 3LCD Home Cinema Projector (WebCode: 10203965) was advertised with incorrect specs. Please be advised that this projector IS NOT 3D, as previously advertised. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.