A unique aspect of the CAL is its "Club" structure.
Chalmers, Queen Street, St. John's, St. Joseph's and Storrington have been the backbone of the league longer than most NHL teams have existed. From the days of CAL founder, Harold Harvey, identification by church or other communities such as the Canadian Forces Kingston-based Fort Henry association have provided the foundation for the CAL's successful club system.
Just as there are die hard Leafs or Canadiens or Senators fans, the loyalties to the club teams goes a long way and there are many great, friendly rivalries in the CAL.
The principle is that feeling of belonging and the camaraderie of dressing room when players rejoin their familiar mates season after season. As opposed to changing the teams every year and playing with different kids, the CAL celebrates the friendships made on the ice and the loyalty to a team or a parish.
Another advantage is the continuity most teams have with coaching. In many cases, a group of players will have the same coach from Novice to Midget. That continuity helps with not only skill development but potentially provides consistent leadership that the kids respect. The league’s primary objectives is to build good character and citizenship values in the players and the coaches and other parent volunteers have a pivotal role in achieving that goal.
The area that is most controversial with the club arrangement is competitive balance. It’s no fun to have a wide disparity between teams. The league addresses this through having a registration deadline for ‘Right of Return’ which is this Friday, August 22. ‘Right of Return’ means that anyone registering by that date can return to the same club as last season provided there is space. If there are too many players for a particular club, priority is based on seniority or parish membership. Players without ‘Right of Return’, or those wishing to change clubs or new entrants to the league are skill rated and placed on teams according to balancing needs.
Thank you Cunninghams!
Congratulations to Simon Whitfield for a gutsy silver medal performance at the Olympics! Simon, a former Chalmers player, has a loyal following with the CAL.
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