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Today I wanted to write about the end of the Edmonton Oilers pre-season. I wanted to write about the final cuts to the roster, Holloway looking like a top six forward, Broberg looking like he still isn't ready, and predictions for the opening night roster. That was what I wanted. But try as I might, I just couldn't find the motivation to share my optimism about the Edmonton Oilers with the dark cloud that is surrounding the NHL, the Oilers, Hockey Canada, and sadly professional sports as a whole.
Hockey is not for everyone.
I'm not talking about the expenses of the game, making it difficult for lower income families to afford being able to put their children through, or hockey mills that churn out 1% NHL players and 99% young adults with delusions of grandeur and no understanding of how the real world works. I'm not talking about the ref shortages across North America because of fear of abuse; both verbal and physical from coaches and parents alike... regardless of if the kids playing are 18 years old, or 10.
I'm not even talking about the massive number of sexual assault cases and trials that are ongoing, being covered up, or actively ignored by organizations. I am talking about the entity that encompasses every single one of these issues.
I'm talking about the "business" of hockey.
Right now the face of that business is Hockey Canada, that as I was writing this piece, announced that CEO Scott Smith and the entire board would be stepping down after the onslaught of demands for change. Hockey Canada has been mired in controversy from allegations of sexual assault, attempted cover-ups of these incidents, and settlements that were in large part paid for from dues from families across the country.
At the end of the day it was not the outcry of the people that caused the rotten core of Hockey Canada to step down, it was the financial pressures from sponsors who backed out that finally forced their hand. All of this just reinforced a sad truth; the "business" of hockey does not care what lines it needs to cross or what is ethically or morally correct as long as the money keeps rolling in. It is only when the bottom line is damaged that they will implement change.
Hockey is not for everyone.
It's disheartening to see the sport I love so much fall under such harsh scrutiny but I'd be naïve to believe that Hockey Canada is the only culprit or that hockey is the only sport with such issues. Hockey Canada is not only organization that is causing these problems... they're just the ones who have gotten caught red handed at the moment.
The Chicago Blackhawks tried to push the incident involving then player Kyle Beach and assistant coach Brad Aldrich under the rug as they were trying to win a Stanley Cup. The Cup was put before everything, including the life of a young man who waited years for some semblance of justice. He was failed by his coaches, teammates, and the organization as a whole who all believed that other things mattered more.
Hockey is not for everyone.
There are excellent reporters out there who are working tirelessly to bring these incidents to light, Rick Westhead being a perfect example. Unfortunately far too many remain quiet. Bob Nicholson, CEO and Vice-Chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group was also the CEO for Hockey Canada between 1998 and 2014. How many articles have been written about his involvement in these allegations or questions asked to the likes of GM Ken Holland about what the organization thinks of all of this? None.
While part of me would like to simply call these reporters and journalists cowards, the truth is I respect the difficult position that they find themselves in. To take a stand and call for Bob Nicholson's resignation or demand the organization make a statement is to point the gun directly at their own head, risking losing insider information or potentially their very livelihood for making "controversial statements." It's easy to ask someone else to take a stand and risk everything while sitting on the sidelines themselves.
As for myself, I enjoy the position I have here at HockeyBuzz as a blogger, but what I say and write has next to no impact on the Oilers organization...ever less so in terms of how hockey is run in this country. What I write are my own opinions and beliefs and I can sit here and say whatever I choose without fear of any repercussions.
So why write this at all? Ultimately I felt I needed to say something and hope maybe it impacts someone. Whether it is a parent who realizes the damage they could cause by harassing someone's child in a peewee tournament, someone on a team who is aware of an incident of abuse and has stayed quiet, a player who thinks twice how they conduct themselves in a club around women, or any other type of incident... realize that each one of these things and dozens more can not only cause trauma for others, but irreparably damage your own life.
Hockey is not for everyone... but it can be.
Some changes are happening at the highest levels of the game right now but if we continue down the current path we are on it will take decades before the game is cleaned up at the grassroots levels. Having more and more individuals speaking out, educating others, and encouraging a standard of respect will only help speed us along to a better game for everyone.
The "business" of hockey is a machine that will keep churning and pumping out money. That might not be able to be stopped but the more people are able to get involved, the more control we might have over it.
As always, thank you all for reading.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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