Food for thought for the OLA in case it finds itself in a similar boat next year. Otherwise, kudos to all for a great start to the festival!

I understand exactly what you are saying and cannot imagine how upset the team must be.

I was actually still speaking with a few people about it last night but can offer my take on what I saw.

I was in the Brantford end (with the empty net). In my opinion, the ref in the ned I was in, simply made a crease call, got the ball to a Brantford player, and started play again. When he looked up is whne he saw the players in the other end on the floor.

What I am getting at, is that I do not think the ref “robbed” Shelburne of the win. I think he was caught in a situation where he had to make a call I think he did not want ot make.

I would have hoped that had he seen all of the players on the floor, he would have gotten them back on the bench prior to resuming play.

I may be wrong, but that is how I saw it all unfold….

Just some thoughts.

I fullly agree with Marksy and to use the Elora situation as an example, it is completely unacceptable that they did not continue on in the tourny when teams with a poorer record got through. For the tournament organizers to not see this as a potential issue and thus remedy it before it happened shows a total lack of foresight on their parts.

I have seen a few issues like this over the past 4 years that lead me to question whether the organizers really put as much effort into the lower tier teams as they do for the ‘A’ teams and the National teams. It is almost obligatory to attend Provincial’s now and it seems the attitude is along the lines of ‘they’re coming anyway’ so there is little to no incentive to fix things.

Just my two cents!

I appreciate your comment and do not expect everyone to agree with me. The point I was trying to make was that it is tough to explain to a team like Elora, that did not lose, that they are going home while other teams like Oakville who did lose. or Kemptville who Elora tied went to the Semi-Finals.

Maybe “better ratings” was not the appropriate wording, “better groupings”, or a chance for teams to compete to move on, rather than a formula based on improper groupings.

I agree that it is great for those three centres to have their kids experience the Festival. However, one of those teams in each group of 6 would have “balanced” the groupings wouldn’t it?

It is all about fun for the kids I know, but when parents are paying the dollars they are to play, travel, eat, and sleep away from home, it should be equally fair to all is all I’m getting at.