{"id":16340,"date":"2025-02-12T16:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T16:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/ontario-minor-hockey-league-team-handed-14-losses-over-paperwork-error\/"},"modified":"2025-02-12T16:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T16:24:16","slug":"ontario-minor-hockey-league-team-handed-14-losses-over-paperwork-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/ontario-minor-hockey-league-team-handed-14-losses-over-paperwork-error\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario minor hockey league team handed 14 losses \u2014 over paperwork error"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The parents of a minor hockey<\/a> team in Ontario are crying foul after the league handed the team 14 losses over a paperwork error.<\/p>\n

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The penalty, imposed on the Mississauga Rattlers Under 16 boys \u2018AA\u2019 team by the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) in January, was issued over a trainer who was not allowed to be on the bench.<\/p>\n

The parents of the 19 players said in a statement Wednesday the team\u2019s official registrar admitted to making the error in a letter to the league. The parents said the trainer has been a registered volunteer before, and had submitted his credentials in September.<\/p>\n

The registrar, along with the parents, are pleading with the league to overturn the penalty, the statement reads.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur kids were in first place and had a once in a lifetime chance to win a championship this year,\u201d said\u00a0Mieke Gilbert, whose son is a goaltender, in the statement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThese kids did nothing wrong and are very upset. The GTHL had other disciplinary options, none of which would have impacted the players and their season.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tTeam was originally handed 16 losses\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The parents said a hearing was held last month after the team appealed an initial GTHL decision to overturn the result of a single game from a win to loss, and the six game suspension of the team\u2019s coach.<\/p>\n

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At the appeal hearing, the GTHL added a $1,000\u00a0fine and increased the game loss penalty to 16. The penalty was later reduced to 14 games to reflect the games the trainer was on the bench for after the league noticed an error in its first decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cRather than protecting the children, the GTHL decision is hurting them,\u201d said\u00a0Jeff Davis, a parent and a volunteer team manager, in the statement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs parents and volunteers, we expect better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephanie Coratti, senior manager of communications and marketing with the GTHL, told Global News in an email a special committee \u201cthoroughly\u201d reviewed the matter.<\/p>\n

It determined the trainer was not only never registered with the team, but was never recorded on any game sheet in which they participated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mississauga Rattlers Hockey Association have acknowledged this and have accepted responsibility for this matter. GTHL regulations, put in place by GTHL organizations, require the outcome that the special committee imposed,\u201d Coratti said.<\/p>\n