Grimshaw reconsiders intention to fold

North Peace Hockey League president Jack McAvoy has a busy week ahead if the Grimshaw Huskies reorganize and are allowed back into the league.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

North Peace Hockey League president Jack McAvoy must have one giant headache after events unfolded last week. The league met for the annual fall meeting in Fairview Sept. 8 to organize for the coming season. They first accepted a request from the Grimshaw Huskies for one year’s leave of absence before hammering out a schedule and playoff format. The league’s teams agreed on a two-division format this season. The East Division includes Falher, High Prairie, Lakeland, Peace River and Valleyview while the West is comprised of Fairview, Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, Hythe and defending champion Spirit River. The teams surprisingly agreed to let Fort St. John and all registered “AAA” teams back into the playoffs after no motion was put on the floor similar to last year banning them. Teams then passed another motion where each team would make the playoffs. The top three teams in each division receive a bye while the fourth and fifth place teams play a preliminary best-of-three. They advance to the final eight where the division champions would be seeded one-two, then the other six teams three to eight. The quarter-finals would be a best-of-five series with the semi-finals and finals being best-of-seven. However, after the meeting the phone calls began. Fairview, being very upset at being moved to the NPHL’s much stronger West Division, began soliciting support for a change. According to the NPHL Constitution, any team can force the league to call a special meeting and revisit any decision if the majority of teams sign a letter. Fairview preferred a three-division format where Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, Hythe and Spirit River would comprise the West Division; Fairview, Falher and Peace River the North Division and High Prairie, Lakeland and Valleyview the East Division. The proposed schedule turned down included a partial interlocking schedule; instead, teams voted for a full interlock. Then, news the Horse Lake Thunder were making inquiries to join surfaced. And to muddy the waters even more, Grimshaw contacted McAvoy and are reconsidering. While the Thunder appear to have little support for rejoining the league, the Huskies were given until Sept. 15 to make a final decision. The deadline was too late to report in this week’s South Peace News. The Thunder still have the option of calling a special meeting if the majority of NPHL teams sign a letter forcing the meeting. Grimshaw’s plight revolves around the fact they have no head coach and very few executive to operate the club. Players are not a problem, Huskies’ representative Graham Campbell has told McAvoy. NPHL statistician Chris Clegg was directed to draw the schedule Sept. 20 for release the following day. What it means for McAvoy is, he has a very busy week ahead if Grimshaw is allowed back into the league because it prompts scheduling and playoff format changes.

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