No fair trial for OCC?

[calihockey]

I am sick and tired of all the trash talking on OCC that has happened on the college board as well as various other websites. I did make one comment, but mostly as a joke. That team was probably planned out, but I have seen what some other Division 1 schools do to recruit players. One email I read from one club's president to a recruit openly bashed the school the recruit was looking to attend. Are we truely supose to think little of OCC when other schools pull this? If the CRHL or any of its leaders want to deny this than they are full of it. What is truely wrong with OCC bringing in talent? So they recruited, but they didn't say "oh don't go there", they all know eachother. A lot of them play on the Preditors together. Yes, they do have an advantage, but that is the nature of competition. You create a national championship and allow all the hype then get mad when a team gets motivated to win. If you want everything to be so even, forget the trophies and turn off the scoreboards. Until then, do not complain about stacked teams and how unfair it is that one team has so much talent. They have done nothing except out play their opponents and the team that did beat them probably played the game of their lives. OCC should have been allowed at winternationals. The College Division will truely not be a collection of the best college talent. Anyone who claims bragging rights for winning is a joke. We hear talk of wanting or sport to be recognized. Let's face facts, our sport is not going to get there with everyone fighting over stuff that is pointless. Why do I defend OCC? No, I do not go to OCC. I do know a few of the guys and they are truely decent human beings. They do play a rough brand of hockey (if you don't want contact go pick up some pomps pomps at sportmart and watch from the stands) but of all the times I have skated against these guys, I have only had one time where I took a cheap shot. It happened at a pick up session and it was totally accidental. So much so that the player who did it stopped in the middle of play and made sure I was alright. Isn't that what we want? Players who can be decent and not an embarrassment to the game? Are you all going to keep punishing these guys because they are better than you? Remember that there is a place for everyone. You guys waste so much effort bashing them and Lindenwood. This effort should be used to help better your organization. Do not bash OCC, try to learn from their methods and better the level of play. Do not bash Lindenwood, learn from what the have put together with whatever scholarships they have been able to come up with. Instead of having everyone hate on one good team, lets have everyone learn from the one good team and end up having great heated competition just to get to nationals let alone the tournament itself. Let's learn from Lindenwood so more players will have the oppertunity to go to school. Not all kids have parents who can pay for school or may have to help family pay the bills. Some will never get the shot to attend a good school without a scholarship. College sports is about competition, but it is still "College" sports. Many college athletes do not go on to professional careers and if you want to be treated like other sports, you better start acting like they do. To those who have been decent and have not bashed anyone, good for you. Hopefully you can influence others to do the same as it will help the sport. Good luck to Zack, Jayson, Andy, Brin, Tyler, Coach Dave and the rest of the Pirates. Do not let others punish you for you talent. Use all the bashing to fuel a championship. They bash you because they are jealious not because you have done anything wrong.

[MBurke]

1. Learn to write in paragraphs. My eyes are killing me.

2. I haven't read much on here or CRHLnet bashing OCC. I
think the point that was made by many was that OCC was "trash-talking" about their great talent. As you said, OCC is a bunch of guys who have always played together that went to school to play together. Great for them - I commend them on their dedication to education and the sport.

Regardless, that still doesn't mean that it would be "fair" to allow them to play in WinterNats along with Division I schools that have drastically different eligibility requirements. Even if everyone at OCC is taking 6 credits and would otherwise fulfill CRHL eligibility, consider the admissions process at most full-time universities. I highly doubt that and entire group of people who have played together as a team for some time would all be able to gain admission to the same school without some type of talent-based scholarship, as awarded by Lindenwood. Do you think the College division would be much fun to watch if OCC were to come out and mercy lesser-privledged universities every time on the floor?

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by mikeburke on 12/31/02 03:09 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

[MBurke]

My apologies for being misinformed - I thought that they had all planned to go to OCC and said 'hey, the opportunity is there, let's play hockey too!.

I didn't mean to come off as saying they were less intelligent. I merely said that it's very difficult for 4-5 friends (regardless of intelligence) to all attend the same school. Many factors come into play - finances (as you alluded to), ability to receive aid, and other demographics come to mind.

Note: I am NOT affilited with the CRHL. I help run a Member Organization of the league, but I have no bearing on what they do nationally or in your region - my views are not necessarily theirs.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net