The owner of the Espanola Rivermen says banning Espanola Minor Hockey from associating with his team hurts minor hockey. The NOHA has barred minor hockey from taking part in Rivermen activities like 50-50 draws, otherwise it can’t take part in tournaments. Rivermen owner Tim Clayden says the decision doesn’t hurt his club but it’s a different story for minor hockey. He says minor hockey depends on the revenue split from these draws and the NOHA decision can cost minor hockey as much as $10,000. Clayden believes the NOJHL is behind the NOHA ban. Clayden admits he became the bad boy when he left the NOJHL over politics last year to create his own league which is doing quite well.  Clayden says a fallout from the ban is the resignation of Ross Nichols as president of Espanola Minor Hockey. He says Nichols put in dozens of hours into the association and now his volunterrism is gone.  Clayden says we need to get politics out of the game and get more kids on the ice.
