Letters, letters . . . we are still getting letters and e-mails about the KMHA scandal. Oh, and we've heard from the father of a former Kamloops Blazers star, too.
Let's start with that . . .
- - -
Gord Nixon, the father of centre Brock Nixon, who was traded away by the Blazers and now plays for the Calgary Hitmen, has a few words for fans in these parts . . .
"It has been quite a journey for Brock and for us. He has grown to love the city, and talks a lot about spending some or all of his summers there in the future. We have gotten to know the city as well, through our trips out over the past five years, from training camp journeys to weekend fly-ins to catch games. For us and for Brock, he could not have played in a better place.
"At times, the off-ice stuff detracted from his and our appreciation of the on-ice product, but that never in any way soured him on the city, the organization, or the fans of the Blazers.
"In fact, it made him want to bring success to the club and to its fans even more. That is why it was so hard, both for him and for us, to have it end the way it did. He went there in August determined to finish his WHL career with a 'team' success type of season, and a playoff run. He was sure that with the returning players, and the coaching staff in place for the seccond season in a row, that this would be the season.
"Obviously, things didn't work out that way, and led to his trade to a new team. It has been hard for us to grasp that he no longer is with the Blazers and seeing him in a different jersey is kind of weird. We would like to thank all the loyal fans who have cheered him on and spurred him to play better. He left us as a skinny 16-year-old and has grown into a man, thanks in no small part to the city of Kamloops and the people who have looked out for him. He had fantastic billets over the years, he made some life-long friends, and he will carry his time in Blazertown for the rest of his life.
"Thanks for everything."
The Nixons live in Russell, Man. Their commute to Calgary obviously is shorter than the one to Kamloops.
- - -
And, yes, we continue to hear from people about the underage drinking scandal involving the KMHA and its president.
"Please don't let this issue die like they want it to," writes one observer. "It is too important and I cannot believe the silence coming from both the (Hockey B.C.) and (Hockey Canada) offices.
"These people really need a course in damage control."
- - -
A READER WRITES FROM ASHCROFT:
"I recently heard a speaker talk about organizational collapse. He pointed out that in the vast majority of organization failures you find executive arrogance -- the 'it's not possible we can be wrong' attitude -- as the common thread, even long after the collapse. The standard response to any dissent is to explain to the dissenters that 'they just don't understand' and/or to discipline them. Sound familiar?
"It is my sincere hope that this is not what is happening to the KMHA when you consider the good that has come from this organization over the years.
"A more likely scenario can be taken from the game of golf where there is a basic fundamental that states, 'Never follow a bad shot with a stupid shot.' Had this been applied I'm sure the situation as it exists today would not.
"The good news is that it is still fixable. What is necessary is a lot of common sense and a checking of egos at the door. What a lesson this would be for our young people, to see adults acting like adults and resolving a difficult situation rather than perpetuating the issue."
- - -
I also heard from a gentleman who has made an exception to the rule and actually agreed with something I have written:
"I would like to say that I am 100 per cent in agreement with your stance on the KMHA party/hazing fiasco.
"While the actions of the president, the local executive and B.C. Hockey are bad enough, I think the most onerous issue is the attempted gagging of the members and parents. Since when did we become a dictatorship where members and parents of a community organization are not allowed to speak?
"The whole situation sends so many negative messages to our children that it is despicable!
"I am so happy that my children will never be involved with this minor hockey organization."
- - -
And then there was this e-mail that arrived from Marty, who lives in Everett, Wash., home of the Silvertips, and knows something about the impact booze can have on one's life:
"Keep up the good work on the coverup of the underage drinking story by the local hockey mucky-mucks. I am a recovering alcoholic (eight years and counting) and having their heads-in-the-sand attitude is not helping things.
"Please don't let this story die."
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca.
Posts
