Loss of the Lightning
Article content
The Tillsonburg Lightning girls hockey program has seen more ups than downs in recent years.
But just over two weeks ago, they reached a low point. Tillsonburg Minor Hockey Inc. announced they would not have any girl-specific OWHA hockey teams this year, although the girls were welcome to join the TMHI Tornadoes (OMHA) program.
“It is disappointing that TMHI will not be able to offer a girls only team this coming season,” said TMHI president Scott Baird. “On behalf of the TMHI board of directors I would like to thank all of the volunteer efforts that went into making this program viable over the years. I would also like to thank all past and present players who participated as part of the program. We wish them continued success wherever they have a chance to play this season.
“We continue our work to make hockey in Tillsonburg an enjoyable, sustainable recreational program for the youth in this area. With change always comes opportunity. We may not have the registration necessary to enter a team in OWHA but we remain committed to the development of skill for female hockey players in Tillsonburg. We plan to offer hockey development activities for females in the area in the upcoming season.”
Low registration was cited as a significant reason for the loss of the Lightning program, which included two bantam (B & C) and one peewee girls teams last season.
“Because we only have enough girls for one team at each level, the girls who want to play the higher level of hockey – rep hockey – started to go elsewhere and then it just kind of rippled down,” said Kathy DeBackere, TMHI’s girls hockey registrar.
“A lot of them signed up for other girls organizations that have higher levels, B and up. That kind of collapsed the Lightning because there weren’t enough left to have teams.”
DeBackere said they had 6-7 girls left at each level that wanted to play in Tillsonburg.
“When they start to get older, that’s when the parents and the kids want to get more competitive. Most of the girls from the Bantam B team moved up to a higher level – Midget A, Midget BB, and Midget B.”
A couple decided not to play hockey this year, she said.
“It’s kind of cyclical. It goes that way every once in a while, you get a couple years where you’re down and out, but this year was more (leaving) than in the past. It just worked out that way at every level.”
There is hope in the future of bringing back the Lightning program. TMHI has girls playing in its tyke and novice programs.
“In a couple of years, when they get to atom, it’s possible,” said DeBacker, “they could start it back up again.”
Last fall, the Lightning were recipients of a $25,000 grant from RBC Play Hockey. Lats October, DeBackere had said, “It will make a big difference to what we can do starting a girls association.”
Megan Simmonds, Branch Manager at RBC in Tillsonburg, and the Lightning/OWHA representative, said last October the RBC Play Hockey program “helps hockey happen in communities across North America.
“Girls love to play with their own peers,” said Simmonds in 2012, “so this will help create their own association, expand membership and ultimately provide more opportunity for the girls of Tillsonburg and the surrounding area to be able to participate in the fastest-growing female sport in Canada.”
But the Lightning were not able to create their own association.
“I sent emails out – ‘we need help, we need ideas, come join our committee,’” said DeBackere, “and we didn’t get the support we needed.”
Part of the $25,000 was used to run girls hockey training sessions during the 2013 March Break. But less than 10 per cent of the money had been used.
“The rest of the money is ear-marked for girls hockey in Tillsonburg,” said DeBackere, “so it will have to be kept for that purpose. We’ve got some ideas on how we can develop the girls, even though they’re playing somewhere else. They’ll have some kind of development or training for everybody who played Lightning hockey.
“And I’m sure if they start up again they’ll use it.”
Registration for Tillsonburg Minor Hockey started in June. By August, they had to make a firm decision on the Lightning.
“You don’t want to leave it too long – you have to let the people know who registered here, because if you wait… there are centres that have tryouts, and if the girls wait too long, they would miss them.”
Seven bantams and seven midgets registered, enough to make a combined team, but the interest wasn’t there, said DeBackere, noting they’ve had mixed-age teams in the past (atom/peewee).
“Only seven responded saying they wanted to be on a team with combined ages, so it didn’t work.”