Young Enoch hockey players join city association

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Enoch youth are being admitted this year into the Edmonton Minor League Hockey Association as part of a plan to give all children a fair chance at playing the game.

Enoch recreation co-ordinator Neil Morin says that reserve's minor hockey program has been dismantled while most of the players join Edmonton-based teams. Children will no longer have to "go through the back door" just to get a shot at playing hockey in the city.

"It's really for the betterment of the children. If they want to improve their game by joining in Edmonton, all the better," he says.

Nearly 25 minor hockey players, aged 12-14, have joined with the Edmonton league. There are 20 in Enoch that have not. But Morin says there will still be Shinney Hockey organized for them.

"We'll still have pick-up games, just not as many kids," he says.

The past several years, children in Enoch have registered for the city league using Emdonton addresses. Morin says hockey players in Enoch were beginning to suffer because parents couldn't afford to pay the high fees.

"The players were sneaking away. It was tough on the others." Under the Edmonton Minor Hockey League terms, players must reside within the city limits to be admitted to the league. Enoch, just west of Edmonton, is not considered part of the city."

Recreation officials at Enoch petitioned the association earlier this year to loosen its restrictions on eligible players, Morin says.

"They were very receptive."

Carl Brodie, vice-president of the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association, says his executive committee was encouraged by the plan. They unanimously agreed to allow Enoch residents to play.

"Certainly, we've taken them in. They're most welcome."

Brodie says the league constitution was amended three weeks ago to allow them in.

"They simply weren't within the boundaries set down by our constitution. But we can see there's a need (to change that)," Brodie says.