Two paths, same destination

Owners of Provincial Jr. A Hockey League teams are faced with a fine mess now.
Just two series into the playoff marathon to determine a league champion and already there is no clear method to putting together a championship hockey team. Not after two teams at extreme ends of the hockey universe have crashed and burned.
The assignment at hand is to compare the Newmarket Hurricanes, a team comprised almost entirely of inexpensive hometown and area players, and the Milton IceHawks, whose checkbook approach is also a burned out shell of a project at the side of the Royal Bank Cup highway.
The IceHawks were everyone’s pick to represent the Provincial league at the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament and join the Streetsville Derbys as league representatives at the national championship tournament to be held in May in Brampton. After all, the team lost just three times in regulation time during the regular season.
The Milton franchise went to considerable lengths to acquire and compensate top-notch players with one goal in mind. We know this because the IceHawks were caught red-handed and penalized by the year-long suspension of their head coach and scapegoat, George Dupont. It is a severe penalty some observers believe ultimately proved the difference in Wednesday night’s seventh game loss in the West Conference semifinal series against the Oakville Blades, despite holding a 3-1 lead at one point.
Milton bashers will also gleefully note money cannot buy heart and character, neglecting to note the successes of high-budget teams in the recent past.
Still, it is certain a lot of folks in junior hockey were smiling large Thursday morning.
The Hurricanes hometown approach also possesses flaws.
It is kind of warm and fuzzy that the Hurricanes perform with just one billeted player. The Hurricanes, who steadfastly refuse to pay players weekly stipends, are quite pleased about that fact although they must portray their contentment from the sidelines after being pushed aside in six games by the Stouffville Spirit.
The fans? Well, that could be another matter come future seasons if the same approach is applied. And there is no reason to think it will not. Present ownership views it as a source of pride. Fans might expect to have their loyalty rewarded by a team capable of advancing beyond the second round of the playoffs.
Ah, well. There remains three rounds worth of high-priced teams and low-budget outfits trying to determine a league champion before the ice melts.
How to build a junior hockey team? To spend or not to spend?
Never has the question been more complex.