North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 ice hockeyB次元官网网址檚 system of player development is, like some other sports, characterized by a set of values and principles in which the ultimate goal is professional or, at the very least, highly competitive participation at the national and international level. ItB次元官网网址檚 a system that calls upon young athletes to dedicate their lives to the sports they love, sometimes at a very young age.
In hockey, the system calls upon some young players to leave home at relatively young ages to pursue their dream. ItB次元官网网址檚 not uncommon for children as young as 14 to be sent to academies or teams where they will dedicate their lives to the game, sometimes away from their homes, families and parental guidance during their formative years.
At the Junior A level, the Victoria Grizzlies are a part of that billeting system and, although the NHL is a goal for many of the team members, they are also playing for the opportunity to be scouted for NCAA teams and the potential of a scholarship to any of a number of highly ranked universities in Canada and the United States.
Last year, 11 of the team members were successful in obtaining scholarships.
While the Grizzlies have an excellent track record with their billeting system, as a whole the system is not devoid of problems.
In 2014, Terry Trafford, a player with the Saginaw Spirit, committed suicide in a tragedy that led most Junior A teams to ensure that they now have mental health professionals available for their players.
While the Grizzlies have never had those sorts of problems and take great care to ensure that these situations never arise, itB次元官网网址檚 still a system with which head coach Craig Didmon has felt some discomfort with.
B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot to be said that kids should stay in their home towns, play Junior B and graduate from high school before they are picked up by a team in another part of the country, away from their families. They should stay at home as long as possible,B次元官网网址� Didmon said.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 particularly true when the team takes responsibility for younger players. DidmonB次元官网网址檚 team and others at the Junior A level regularly have one or two players who come to the team as 16 year olds, a situation that is most challenging for the teams Didmon noted.
But the Grizzlies coach acknowledged the difficulty in that approach as well. ItB次元官网网址檚 simply not always possible, he said.
B次元官网网址淵ou have a player like Alex Newhook B次元官网网址� an incredibly talented player who has every possibility of advancing in this game B次元官网网址� who would not have the opportunity to play at the level he needs in his home in Newfoundland. For him, it only makes sense to leave home to follow that dream,B次元官网网址� Didmon said.
Newhook is currently being billeted with a family that has taken in three Grizzlies and the now 17 year old (he came to the Grizzlies at 16) is staying with two teammates who are 20 years old.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a situation Sheryl Williamson, co-ordinator of the teamB次元官网网址檚 14 billet families, said actually helps keep the younger player focused and provides him with role models that help him through the experience.
When any of the players from other parts of the country arrive in Victoria, they are housed by a group of billet families that take in as many as three of the players and, hopefully, become a surrogate family to the young athletes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really a pretty positive experience for us. ItB次元官网网址檚 the second year that weB次元官网网址檝e billeted players and itB次元官网网址檚 great,B次元官网网址� Williamson said. B次元官网网址淲e have Lucas Clark this year, along with Carter Berger. TheyB次元官网网址檙e really great guys, and we have no problems with them at all. The fact is that most of these players are extremely focused and they know whatB次元官网网址檚 at stake.B次元官网网址�
ThatB次元官网网址檚 not to say that there are never any problems.
B次元官网网址淔rom time to time, we have a billet and a player who just donB次元官网网址檛 mesh well B次元官网网址� where a personality conflict happens and they call me in and we get them back on track. Sometimes it means moving a player to another billet where thereB次元官网网址檚 a better fit,B次元官网网址� she explained
Berger credits the billet system for a lot of his own success. B次元官网网址淭hese are great people who open up their homes and really make us a part of their family. If you have an issue and just need someone to talk to, theyB次元官网网址檙e always there for you and thatB次元官网网址檚 really important,B次元官网网址� he siad.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know that I would have been as successful in the game if I didnB次元官网网址檛 have that kind of support from my billets. The mental side of things is that, if you donB次元官网网址檛 have someone to come home to or just hang out with, itB次元官网网址檚 really hard to keep focused and positive, especially if things are hard at times.B次元官网网址�
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