Medicine Hat minor hockey player forced to quit league hockey over changes parents opposed

Apr 16, 2024 | 6:04 PM

A Medicine Hat woman said her son won’t be playing league hockey anymore due to a decision made by the Medicine Hat Minor Hockey Association.

This decision turns the existing U18 City League into a Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) team.

“For me that effects my son because I don’t have the money to travel out of town every single weekend or every other weekend,” said Christie Stacey, a mother of a U18 City hockey player.

“It doesn’t matter if they keep the fees the same, it’s just a lot of travel, hotels, food, all of that. We didn’t bargain for that,” she added.

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At the end of last year, the parents met with the MHMHA and turned down the idea of a CAHL team, Stacey told CHAT News.

At the end of this season, Stacey said the MHMHA made the change anyway.

Stacey added that the city league did struggle with numbers, mostly doing practices, playing three-on-three hockey and a few tournaments throughout the season.

However, she said it was still a great outlet for her son to play the sport he loves.

“Our kids are older and a lot of them work and I think a lot of people are looking for that outlet for their kids to still be active, still enjoy and have that camaraderie between them and that’s just been taken away,” Stacey said.

The Medicine Hat Minor Hockey Association did not agree to an interview or issue a statement despite several requests by CHAT News.

by Lisa Parent

Medicine Hat minor hockey player forced to quit league hockey over changes parents opposed

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