2011-2012 SEASON ON THE HORIZON

August 29, 2011

The GMHL season gets underway next week, and teams are working to fill out there rosters with final tryout camps and exhibition games.

The first exhibition game of the season took place last night in Bradford as the Rattlers took on the expansion Americans from Orangeville, defeating the newcomers 6-1.  The Americans look like a solid squad, particularly in goal, but will require a little more offensive punch.

Nevertheless, the game was closer than the score would seem to indicate, and exhibition games are just that - exhibitions!  A chance to get a look at players in a real game situation, and get a feel for the lineup you have in place.

Next week, just prior to the start of the season, two other expansion teams, Mattawa and Temiscaming, will play a home and home series as part of their final selection process, with the expansion Titans opening at home on September 10 against Sturgeon Falls, while Mattawa will have an extra week to prepare, opening their season against Bobcaygeon on the 16th.

The GMHL season will get underway with defending champion Elliot Lake and league finalist South Muskoka in action on September 9th - the Bobcats hosting Sturgeon Falls, and the Shield hosting Bradford, the team they eliminated in last season's Semi-Finals.

In other news:  The league conducted our annual Officiating Clinic last weekend in Thornhill, under the leadership of Referee-In-Chief Al Zimmer, dealing with rules, systems, and the development of the league's ongoing recruitment, training, assessment, mentoring, and level designations for the members of our officiating crew.  The clinic also featured a Owners/Coaches clinic for the purpose of providing information and knowledge for the growing issue of head injury prevention and treatment.  Kerry Goulet, founder and spearhead of 'Play It Cool' Campaign, along with researchers from Lakehead University, provided a presentation promoting knowledge and awareness of concussions, a very serious issue amongst today's players.  The GMHL is a strong supporter of this cause and not only contributes financially, but proudly displays the 'Play It Cool' crest on all of our officials' jerseys, among other things.

ALSO:  The new ownership group of the Powassan team, purchased recently and now known as the Eagles, informed the league last weekend, that circumstances have forced them to defer their entry into the league until the 2012-2013 season.  The club, led locally by GM Mike Ilitky, indicated they are commited to the league, as evidenced by their purchase of a large local training and housing facility in Powassan, and felt it best to take the next year and to have everything in place for the start of next season.  As a result, the schedule has been modified slightly, giving each team some additional games against their nearest rivals, and at the time of this writing, there are only a couple of games still to be confirmed.