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All hail the hockey disruptors

Jon-Howe

There are many things swirling about the hockey universe these days, and WIMPS is just one of many planes in the sky.

It’s business as usual for the 45-plus division, home of the rather wilted demographic who refuse to say that it’s time to pack it in. That laudable enthusiasm for the game is not enough on its own to enable us to carry on the crusade, and a review of the schedule will show that we have played our last Monday night gig for this season.

But it's normal activities for the old folks on Wednesdays. We will play, as usual, from now until April 11, and without disruptions due to special events. Our season is just about over but with four more skates to go, Wednesday’s children do have a rather far way to go before they can put the hockey gear away and pull the fishing tackle from the garage.

There is another Monday crowd who play, as most WIMPS do, starting at 9:00 pm. It is not age restricted and calls the Multiplex its home. As a member of the previously mentioned Monday crew, I will admit there have been numerous occasions when I had shown up at the wrong rink. For the younger Monday bunch, it truly is business as usual as they have the rink at their usual time for every week until April 30.

It is perhaps one of WIMPS better kept secrets, but I am a governor for Thursday nights, and business will be anything but the usual in the coming weeks. I hope that the recent scheduling aggravations are behind us for good. It is perhaps inevitable that hiccups will occur as Easter break, the run up to the Arctic Winter Games and various tournaments all compete for attention.

It is a rather similar situation for Saturday WIMPS, who will vacate the rink for the upcoming First Air Rec Hockey and Canadian North Balsillie Cup oldtimer tournaments, but for whom it will otherwise be its regular schedule until April 28.

Speaking of tournaments, I am informed that the 45-plus division is well on its way to forming two teams who will compete in the Balsillie Cup, to be held April 5 to 8. But we could use a few more players to spread out the workload. There is much hockey to be played in a short weekend. Fence sitters are asked to contact Robin Greig or Steve Lewis.

WIMPS has one team entered in the First Air Rec Tournament. We have a longer roster for the long weekend and I regret to inform any new hopefuls that the best we can do for you right now is to put your name on the waiting list. We may consider a second team, but that will be contingent on several factors. So for those on the outside looking in, don’t lose hope, but please understand that WIMPS brass are not inclined to make commitments that they cannot fulfill.

There is plenty of hockey to be played between now and the end of April. We live in a city where ice time is remarkably accessible, so let’s not take that for granted and make use of the facilities that we have.