Hockeyville? We are not worthy, Stouffvillites

Hockeyville? We are not worthy, Stouffvillites

Columns

By: Jim Mason

Yippee. You can start nominating communities for the title of Hockeyville 2009 Saturday.

But, don’t waste the ink and elbow grease entering our town in the Kraft contest, Whitchurch-Stouffville.

We are not puck worthy, neighbours.

Sure, this place has its share of freshly crafted championships. A local record three Ontario Minor Hockey Association trophies this year alone. Multiple girls and boys provincial high school titles.

Both ice surfaces at the Stouffville Arena have been fully rented for years. There are waiting lists to play minor hockey.

Town council knows how popular ice sports, including hockey, are in this growing town. A second twin-pad complex will open on Weldon Road in about 14 months.

But, if Hockeyville judges cruised into Stouffville Oct. 18, they would not have been amused.

There were 92 people in the bleachers of the arena for an Ontario Junior Hockey League between the hometown Spirit and Toronto’s St. Michael’s Buzzers. That’s family, and a few friends, fans. Euchre night at the seniors’ club draws better.

Two years ago, the same teams met before big-time audiences in the final of the 37-team league. Now, not so much.

Sadly, the crowd was devoid of children. No minor hockey teams, their coaches and parents. No buzz, to see a very entertaining game, won by the Spirit in a shootout.

Maybe sadder, we are not alone. Internet hockey forums talk of small crowds in the same league in Newmarket and Aurora. Save for the Oshawa Generals, most junior teams play to seas of empty seats all across the GTA all winter.

It’s been sad in many ways, but Toronto (and its suburbs) is not a hockey town. It’s Leaf Nation, no matter how dismal the outlook is for the beloved NHLers.

And Stouffville is not a Hockeyville.

Jim Mason, a former director of the Stouffville Spirit, is editor of The Sun-Tribune.

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