THUNDER BAY – Neebing Minor Hockey members were shocked and disappointed to find out their U11 and U13 programs were removed from the Lakehead Minor Hockey League earlier this week.
Don Nadon, Neebing Minor Hockey president, said in a statement he cannot begin to convey his disbelief of this decision.
“Neebing Minor Hockey has been an integral part of our community for many years, fostering a love for the game and providing countless opportunities for our young athletes to develop their skills, build friendships, and learn valuable life lessons.
“The impact of this decision on our players, coaches, parents, and volunteers cannot be overstated.”
Nadon said countless hours of hard work were put in by dedicated volunteers and it's disheartening to see their efforts brushed aside.
“The decision to exclude Neebing Minor Hockey not only undermines the spirit of fair play but also sets a concerning precedent for future collaborations within the league.
“It is my sincere hope that this decision will be revisited and rectified, allowing Neebing Minor Hockey to once again take its rightful place in the LMHL.”
Neebing Minor Hockey members wanted to address the letter posted on the Thunder Bay Hockey Community Facebook Page, saying it was not formally given to them nor was it fully communicated during the recent meeting and voting process.
“To provide further context, this letter was posted to social media 10 minutes after the vote to expel Neebing Minor Hockey happened. In this letter there are significant mistruths and we would like the opportunity to address these individually.”
In the statement, Nadon addressed six points and explained actions taken or ways they have resolved these issues.
One of the issued outlined by the LMHL was Neebing’s inability to fill key governance positions at their annual general meeting. Nadon disputed that. He said they have functioned for multiple years without a role being filled. "One vacancy on a board does not mean that there are governance challenges," he said.
Another example of an issue the LMHL stated was Neebing's lack of reserve funds, as announced at the 2024 annual general meeting. Nadon responded by saying at their financial situation was significantly misrepresented at the 2022/23 annual general meeting.
Neebing Minor Hockey members also addressed the matter in which this expulsion has been allowed to happen.
“Article IV Section E states ‘expulsion of any member at any time requires a 75 per cent majority vote of voting members exclusive of the member being voted upon.’
“The motion to expel Neebing Minor Hockey was put forth from a PAMHA (Port Arthur Minor Hockey Association) member and was voted on by all voting members of LMHL. Each of these members, except for Neebing, now belong to the newly formed PAMHA membership group.”
According to Nadon, during the vote Neebing representatives expressed that the rationale for the vote was very subjective and had never asked for clarification on any of the points.
“This was quickly dismissed and pushed forth to a vote that required no justification, only numbers.
“Neebing's attempts to collaborate with this membership group have been met with nothing but resistance and allegations of wrongdoing,” he said.
Nadon said it is ‘more than obvious’ that the plan to exclude Neebing from the hockey community has been a goal of this group since its recent inception.
“It would be laughable to think there are not personal vendettas at play within these actions and our hope is people see it for what it is.
“It is extremely disheartening that the focus has been shifted from the children playing hockey to power and control over how hockey is run in Thunder Bay.”
It is crucial to remember that hockey should be about the kids. It should provide them with an opportunity to develop their skills, build friendships and foster a love of the game, Nadon said.
“We do hope LMHL will reconsider its actions and do what is right for hockey in Thunder Bay.”
