COXHEATH, N.S. — Lisa MacDonald isn’t the only one disappointed in changes made to upcoming Red Cup Showcase.
These changes to Riverview High School’s hockey tournament, announced on Dec. 20, include having six teams instead of eight. Two local teams, Sydney Academy and Glace Bay, are excluded from the roster.
MacDonald’s son Dylan was captain of the Riverview Redmen last year and she’s hoping the changes will be reversed before the Februray event.
“Red Cup has been a staple in our community,” she said. “It’s a great community gathering and there’s such a positive impact, raising money for youth education and the high calibre of players.
"Someone needs to say something as to why this is happening.”
Six hours after the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education made the announcement changes via press release, MacDonald posted her concerns to her Facebook page. The post was shared 155 times, a fairly high number considering she has 790 Facebook friends.
“The hockey community is tight knit,” said MacDonald, a graduate of Riverview who was captain of the cheerleading team.
“The Grade 12 players from other teams, who chose to play high school hockey so they can play at Red Cup, they were devastated. Some of their parents reached out to me to say thank-you for your post.”
One frustrated player was Glace Bay Panthers player Matthew MacIntosh, who took to Twitter to voice his opinions.
“Disappointed with the RHS (Riverview High School) admin and tournament board. We’ve got 10 grade 12s who were all looking forward to playing in their final Red Cup this season. Now we don’t get the experience because someone’s upset we didn’t want a useless four-team tournament in the middle of playoffs,” MacIntosh wrote the day after his team refused to play Riverview in protest of the changes.
As reported in the Cape Breton Post, the first changes proposed for Red Cup involved only the four local teams. However, Sydney Academy and Glace Bay declined the format and it appears the teams weren’t invited when it was decided there would be six teams.
“Red Cup is one of the best memories I have from playing hockey,” said Shaun Burke whose son Liam plays on the Glace Bay Panthers.
“Liam is really disappointed he can’t play in his Grade 12 year, his grad year. I know a lot of parents and players across the board who say it’s disappointing."
Players 'less excited' for tournament
Ethan Stanwick, who is the current captain of the Redmen said he chose to play for the Redmen instead of major midget "because of the coaching, the team and Red Cup."
He said the changes have left him and his teammates feeling less excited about the tournament.
“This tournament is what bonds the school together as one.”
His father, Alan, said he was “disappointed and bewildered” by the changes. He believes tournament organizers and school administration owe the players and parents an explanation.
“Parents are prepared to help monitor the tournament, we’ve made that clear, but the school is refusing our help,” he said.
MacDonald also said the changes to Red Cup shouldn’t have been made without community input, especially for players and parents, and hopes the decision will be reversed.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing and go back to the old format,” she said.
“Yes, maybe there needs to be changes in structure. But please don’t take it away from other schools. It’s their Red Cup, too.”
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