u/KWsportsmom

Dear Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF);
I am writing as a concerned parent from Waterloo to share ongoing concerns about player movement, open borders, and the broader impact these trends are having on minor hockey in our community and across Ontario.
Over the years, my three boys have participated in House League, Select, BB, and AA levels, and we have seen firsthand how the landscape of minor hockey has shifted. While the intent behind open borders may have been to provide more choice and flexibility, the reality we are experiencing at the local level is far more concerning.
The OHF has long promoted values such as fair opportunity, community-based development, inclusivity, and a commitment to growing the game. These are values that many families, including mine, deeply believe in. However, what we are experiencing on the ground does not always align with those principles. When systems unintentionally reward mobility over commitment, or concentration of talent over broad-based development, those values begin to erode in practice.
In Waterloo, we are seeing an increasing number of players trying out for multiple centres, often treating associations as backup options rather than communities they are committed to. This raises an important question: should associations be developing players who are not fully invested in being part of that program? When families are hedging their bets across several centres, it undermines team cohesion, commitment, and long-term development.
More broadly, open borders are having a significant and damaging impact on small-town hockey programs. Players from smaller centres are increasingly leaving to join larger associations, drawn by perceived opportunities or reputational advantages. However, this movement is not reciprocal—players from larger centres are not going to smaller towns. Instead, they remain in place, while local players are pushed out or displaced within their own associations.
This imbalance is creating a widening gap. Smaller centres are struggling to field competitive teams or, in some cases, any teams at all. As these programs weaken, fewer children have access to hockey in their own communities. This ultimately leads to fewer kids playing the game, fewer opportunities for development, and a shrinking pipeline of talent across Ontario.
In effect, a system intended to increase opportunity may actually be limiting it—concentrating development in fewer centres while reducing access and participation elsewhere. That outcome runs counter to the shared goal of growing the game in a sustainable and inclusive way.
If this trend continues, the long-term consequences will extend far beyond individual associations. We risk eroding the foundation of grassroots hockey in this province. Development cannot thrive if participation declines, and participation declines when local programs are no longer viable.
I want to be clear that my concerns come from a place of care and respect for the game and for the organizations that support it. Like many families, we value what hockey provides for our children—community, discipline, and growth. However, the current system is creating unintended consequences that need to be addressed.
I urge the OHF to take a closer look at how open borders and player movement policies are impacting communities like Waterloo and smaller centres across Ontario. Thoughtful adjustments are needed to ensure that local programs remain strong, that commitment is valued, and that opportunities for development are accessible to all players—not just those in larger centres.
Thank you for your time and consideration.