Reinhart Out

As per Jeff Hollick's blog - link down a bit, on the rink - F Sam Reinhart is not eligible for tonight's game lest he jeopardize his eligibility to play in the Telus Cup Midget Championships in St. John's April 18.

Reinhart has played in five games this season with the Ice including last night. I erred when I mentioned in an earlier post that there was a date that Reinhart could join the club for more than the HockeyCanada rule of five games past January 10 as an affiliate player.

Here's the rule:

35. a) A player of a team of a lower Division or category of the same club, or of
an affiliated team, or a specially affiliated player, may play for a team or
teams of higher Divisions and categories at any time, but if he plays more
than five (5) league and/or play-off games after January 10 with a team or
teams in any higher Divisions or categories, he shall not be allowed to
compete any further in the Division or category for which he is registered
in the same season. Should a player play more than five (5) games with a
team or teams in still higher Divisions and categories, than he shall accordingly
disqualify himself from playing any further in lower Divisions and categories.
For goaltender exceptions see B.41, E.36 (b).
b) Exhibition and/or tournament games, which are not part of regular league
games or play-off games, are excluded from the number of games
referred to in E.35 (a).

But there is also this that I found in the Hockey Canada rule book on affiliations:

GENERAL AFFILIATION PROCEDURES
29. Notwithstanding E.10, E.11, and E.12, Major Junior Hockey teams operating
in the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League may affiliate players registered on Hockey Canada
teams in accordance with agreements reached between the respective
Leagues and respective Branches.

So, using Hollick's statement that BC Hockey has given Reinhart permission to play with the Ice until his Midget club plays next week, as has his club itself, Article 29 tells me that Reinhart could be used if there is an agreement with the branch (BC Hockey).

Given Kootenay's injury status I'm sure there's a case to be made for Reinhart's inclusion in the lineup - with Czerwonka and Montgomery out. So if BC Hockey approves then I don't see why there's a problem.

It's a bit of blow but not the end of the world. Reinhart played well and of course doesn't look out of place but if there's trouble I'd think that Levi Cable isn't far away in Hudson Bay and Jared Iron is also a few hours north in Canoe Lake.

Corey Wolfe of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix has a gamer from last night here. Kevin Mitchell has a column here.