Don Campbell of the Ottawa Citizen reports that the OHL talked about the CHL import draft during its annual meeting Friday. “Now,” Campbell writes, “the Ontario Hockey League will take its concerns to the CHL later this month for a decision on how to fix it.” . . . Brian Kilrea, the GM/head coach of the Ottawa 67’s, told Campbell: “What we adopted was a motion to go forward to the CHL and have the decision made as a CHL decision rather than just an OHL decision. We gave our thoughts and now we have to find out what the other two leagues are thinking. We want to do what's best for all three leagues."
Campbell also spoke with QMJHL president Gilles Courteau, who told him teams in his league will be having the same kind of discussion at a meeting later this month. Courteau told Campbell that he wants to see a change. "It will be either to reduce or completely eliminate import players," Courteau said. "But before we do something, we want to get a position and take it to our Canadian Hockey League partners.”
Courteau continued: "My personal opinion is that 10 years ago — or maybe longer now — the decision to bring import players to the CHL was something very good. Now it's getting tougher to bring those players. Second, we must look at the calibre of players we are bringing over now. Third, we must look and see if we can improve the situation we have with them."
