Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Kitchener Minor Hockey Association (KMHA):
As parents of the U15B Plattsville Rage team, we request:
1.) The immediate release of five former long-time KMHA volunteer house league coaches and team officials (Karl Ortmanns, Steve Bunz, Ryan Dentinger, Gary Schultz, and team official Keith Clingo), so that their children and ours can continue to learn and develop under their leadership.
2.) A review of the rules regarding the release of house league coaches in order to ensure that in future, volunteers at that level of the KMHA are able to follow their children to the league/association of their choice and have the ability to coach with them.
The issue:
This hockey season, geographic boundaries were eliminated for U10 and above hockey players so that they could try out for and play with any minor hockey association regardless of where they live. Many of the kids who played in house league and succeeded on the select team tried out for rep in Kitchener but didn’t make the team. As a consequence, they looked for opportunities to move up elsewhere and found them in Plattsville. With their kids leaving the Kitchener league, the dads named in this open letter, followed as fathers with no plans of coaching a team this year.
At the start of this hockey season, Karl and the other dads stepped up to help the U15B Plattsville Rage team after the team’s head coach suddenly and unexpectedly left the organization. Within a very short time frame, these fathers came together to ensure that our boys would have a team to play with this season in a league that would help them grow and expand their skills.
Before volunteering with U15B Plattsville, Karl and the other dads did their due diligence to ensure they could join the team. They received direction from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) and the Executive Director of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) stating that releases were not required. At all times, the volunteers followed the guidance directly received by OMHA and the OHF.
This direction notwithstanding, there continues to be issues and confusion around releases. Currently, the volunteer dads are being told that they do require KMHA approval in order to leave one minor hockey association as volunteer house league coaches and trainers, to volunteer with another association. However, the KMHA has been actively obstructing the transfers by refusing to grant these releases.
We struggle to find any rationale behind such refusals, as they only stand to harm the children.
The absence of Karl and the other volunteers has left a void on the bench in Plattsville. Right now, we have one coach (and dad) trying to run an entire bench. The boys are missing their leadership and it shows. Karl and the other dads have dedicated their time to supporting every player on the team to achieve their goals and further develop their skills. Karl is goal oriented, knowledgeable, and motivational, and he genuinely cares about the kids. He has an impressive track record: Last year he led the KMHA U13 select team to a 24-1 season, and many players from that team made the U14BB rep team the next year. This shows the quality of coaching that Karl and his team provides.
Finally, it is our understanding that the KMHA has granted releases for other house league coaches. Their mission statement includes “fair treatment of others.” If this is truly the case, the criteria and rationale for when a release can be granted should be consistent. This is why we are asking for a review of this rule - to ensure situations like this aren’t repeated, and to ensure that accountability, transparency and due process is upheld.