We’re going to war for him … Bill McLaurin, Owner of (K&A Golden Hawks).
.. with that statement the whole hockey landscape in Canada may be changing. In the past, many parents and players have complained about Hockey Canada rules, regulations and procedures. Now one family is going to do something about it. Tomorrow morning the Johanson family will be seeking an injunction against Hockey Canada which will allow their son Larry, a highly regarded prospect, to start the season playing with the K&A Golden Hawks Junior A hockey team based in Ontario. Larry Johanson is a young 15 year old hockey player who wants to play the game of hockey at the highest level. This may not happen due to restrictions placed upon him by Hockey Canada, its governing bodies and the local association.
Larry Johanson is a young 15 year old hockey player who wants to play the game of hockey at the highest level. This may not happen due to restrictions placed upon him by Hockey Canada, its governing bodies and a local association.
Today, Johanson was denied a release to play Junior A hockey as a 15 year old this season after exhausting all attempts at appeals with Hockey Canada and its member branches and associations.
Johanson’s step father, Scott Martin, confirmed that the family has retained legal counsel (Tyler Woods from Thunder Bay), and will be pressing forward with a lawsuit and court injunction in this matter. He believes his kid should be free to make his own choices.
“He is a kid. If he chooses to play Junior A at 15, it is up to him to decide and not the bureaucrats. This is Canada. These rules have to go and I am one parent willing to fight this to the end for the good of the game. Larry has a renewed bounce in his step, twinkle in his eye and fire in his hockey since he’s been skating with the KNA Golden Hawks Junior A hockey team! When he comes out of that arena, he’s always smiling and happy………we haven’t seen that in Larry for over a year now! He’s having FUN again, inspite of the hard workouts, dry lands and practices! I have no problem in fighting this fight because this is what makes my kid happy and this is what my kid wants.”
Johanson was recently rated as the 49th best prospect available for this season’s OHL Draft by www.hockeyscouting.ca – scouts see him as a skilled, poised defenseman with the ability to have a real future in the game.
The team owner of the K&A Golden Hawks, Bill McLaurin believes the 15 year old is ready physically and mentally for the jump to the Junior A level of play.
“He is a real good kid; he has good skills for such a young player. He is smart and skilled. A great kid who is handling this well, a great team player. A lot of people will be seeing this kid playing in the Ontario Hockey League or Division One College one day. We played against OCN and they are big and rough. He got a regular shift and did not look out of place. He clears the zone very well and makes a good clearing pass.”
The tale began this summer when Johanson’s step father attempted to get a release from the Thunder Bay minor hockey for his son to play Junior A hockey in the SIJHL, a Junior A loop in Northern Ontario.
Scott Martin, the step father of Larry Johanson, explains:
“We originally contacted Mr. Ron Charbonneau (President Thunder Bay Kings) on July 27th and asked for Larry’s release. Mr. Charbonneau stated he needed a written request, on team letterhead, from the team that wanted to sign him. This was done and Mr. Charbonneau told us that it was up to Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association as to whether or not Larry would obtain his release as he was their property. Letters were sent to Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association by us, requesting Larry’s release and that if the decision whether or not to grant his release was going to go before the board, if we could please be present to at least present our reasons for trying to obtain his release. We did not hear from TBMHA until the day after their board meeting when they contacted us to inform that the request for release had been denied. We then contacted Hockey Northwestern Ontario and requested Larry’s release through them. They contacted us and told us an HNO appeals hearing would be held that week and invited us to attend. The hearing was conducted by HNO Life Member – Mr. Lou Salatino, HNO Board Member – Mr. Wayne Salatino (Lou’s son), and HNO Board Member – Mr. Dean Filane. The day after the board hearing, we were told that HNO had declined Larry’s release. Letters declining the release, from both TBMHA and HNO simply stated “release denied” with NO REASONS put into writing. The matter has now been sent to CHA in the form of a formal appeal. The appeal was hand delivered by Larry’s attorney to the HNO office this past Friday morning, along with the $150 appeal fee. Not only did the appeal to CHA include the required information, but it also included affidavits from Larry, his mother and myself.”
So what happened? Did the player get the release? No, according to Johanson’s step father:
“Today our lawyer got a letter from Hockey Canada stating that it was not their jurisdiction to rule on this matter. They stated this matter is in the hands of Hockey Northwestern Ontario.”
This was all very confusing to the step father.
“This has all been a circus. It is very confusing. You get an appeal denied by Hockey Northwest Ontario (HNO). They tell you to go to Hockey Canada appeals. We take all the forms and have a lawyer spend one full business day filling them out; complex forms and documents. Then they get sent to Hockey Canada and no word for twelve days. Today, we get notified by our lawyer, that it is out of their jurisdiction. I paid Hockey Canada a $150.00 fee for this and the last time I checked legal bills are now $3,500.00.”
The team’s owner, Mr. Bill McLaurin, has never in all of his years seen a case like this. He is very puzzled with the leadership in the Hockey Canada ranks.
“We are going to war for him … people go out in the hockey world and do this to a player. It really is a shame holding back a kid from his dreams.
McLaurin is annoyed with the rhetoric he is receiving from Hockey Canada on this matter:
“They won’t even provide a reason for their ruling. They all say that they are in it for the kids. But how can they say that? They stall and they stall, and the kid is put in a real tough situation.”
Scott Martin has also perceived the matter has been stalled by Hockey Canada, it’s branches and associations. Martin has no interest in seeing his son being treated like a “piece of meat.”
“Number one, let me make this very clear – my kid is not a piece of meat and I will not leave it to the discretion of others to make his choices for him. My kid is old enough and smart enough to make his own life choices. If he wants to play Junior A hockey, then I will support him in his ambitions. All of what we have gone through has made us even dig our feet in a little deeper. My wife does not care what it takes, if we can pave the way for the next kid so they don’t have to go what we went through, then this will all be worthwhile in the end.”
The whole situation has put an emotional toll on the whole family, according to Martin.
“Well we have spent over a month in turmoil. It has weighed very heavily on us waiting by the phone and waiting for decisions. It has been just as tough on our daughter; emotions and tension have been high. All this just because my kid wants to play hockey for a team at the Junior A level.”
Young Larry Johanson believes playing Junior A this season is in his best interests as a player:
“Although I’m the youngest member of the team at 15, I have gained a great deal of respect from team mates and staff. I am treated as part of the “Golden Hawks Family”. I believe that I can excel as a player and person by playi
