Change in Irish hockey has never come easy, and judging by the letter sent to its clubs by the Ulster branch, an expanded Irish Hockey League won't come easy either. Ahead of the Irish Hockey Association's EGM on October 5, when proposals for a full IHL will be discussed, Ulster has said a very clear 'no', asking its clubs not to send representatives to the meeting. Instead, they will send two members of Ulster Hockey's Management Board to outline their opposition to the plan.
In the letter published by the Belfast Telegraph, Ulster Hockey insisted it was open to change and a discussion on how to develop and promote the sport in Ireland, but "we are not open to being ignored and railroaded into a solution that we feel will undermine our provincial structures and ultimately the future of the game within the provinces and in Ireland".
They also accused the IHA of having “a certain degree of contempt for the position of Ulster Hockey and the concerns that we have”, claiming that they received no response to a letter they sent in June informing the sport’s governing body that, following a vote, “Ulster clubs will not participate in a full season IHL”. The lack of response, they said, or “offer of any dialogue or direct consultation in response to our letter . . . also demonstrates that some in the IHA are determined to force through a change to a full IHL regardless of the opinions of Ulster clubs.”
Ulster’s chief concerns about an expanded all-Ireland league centre on the impact on their own league and on schools’ hockey, while travel costs for clubs competing in the new IHL are also an issue – they would have nine away matches under the new format.
There are, though, plenty of positive noises about the proposal coming from current international players, including the captains of the men's and women's senior teams. "The opportunity to play against the strongest opposition week in and week out is hard to resist," said Megan Frazer. "It will lift the level of competition in Ireland while improving the quality of our players and therefore putting us in a better position to qualify for major tournaments."
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting better and different results," said John Jackson. "The best things that have happened to hockey in the last decade have been bold, audacious, creative and far from 'the same old' . . . a new, well marketed, all-Ireland IHL will add weight to hockey in Ireland."
It should be a lively EGM.
Fixtures:
Leinster League: Division One (Saturday) – Corinthians v Loreto, St Columbas College,12.45; North Kildare v Pembroke Wanderers, North Kildare Club, 1.0; Glenanne v UCD, Glenanne Park, 1.0; Hermes v Old Alexandra, St Andrews, 2.0; Railway Union v Trinity, Park Avenue, 3.0.
