OCHL President's Letter, News (Oshawa Community Hockey League)

Welcome back to our current members and those that are new to our league or the game of hockey.

This year marks the OCHL’s 75th Anniversary and we are planning a year of celebration starting with our new amazing 75th Anniversary logo.

Minor hockey has seen several changes and challenges over the past few years. The OCHL will continue to provide a fun, safe and an inclusive atmosphere where you can play the game, we all love! The OCHL would not be what it is today without the help and dedication of past volunteers and friends, and our goal is for the OCHL to be around for another 75 years.

The resiliency of OCHL players and parents has shone through as COVID took a toll on many of us. People dealt with new rules and restrictions that were sometimes changing daily. Kids had to get used to wearing masks — teams found innovative ways to get young players ready for the ice while maintaining social distancing and bubbles. Our OCHL family stepped up, ensuring COVID compliance while thinking of the safety of others first. We can all be proud, and I would personally like to thank all of you (volunteers, players, parents, and spectators) for sticking out the year with us.

For all the coaches, who made social distancing on the ice work — who kept the kids entertained and improved their skills at the same time — know that you made a difference. When so many have been shutin, you were able to bring fun back into their life.

For all the convenors/managers who helped maintain COVID compliance by ensuring that everyone was informed and followed the guidelines while still allowing the players to learn and have fun — thank you.

Thank you to the past and present OCHL board members, the people behind the scenes, who put in many tireless hours making things run smoothly and keeping OCHL players on the ice when permitted.

For parents and players that were new to hockey, I want to thank you for your patience, and I hope that your child had fun learning the game. We love seeing young players starting hockey and learning from our amazing development team.

With your help, we will continuously strive to make your OCHL experience the best in the city and look forward to another year of success for all our house league and select teams.

Lastly, please remember to support the OCHL sponsors, who stuck with us through these times as they struggled with their own COVID issues. We greatly appreciate your support.

Enjoy the 2022-2023 season and stay tuned for more 75th Anniversary updates.

Wayne Capes