You're Kidding, Right?

Any news involving Mike Danton usually has a jarring effect. Just the overall weirdness of it all.

Even when he sat down with former NHLer Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet to give his first post-prison interview a few weeks ago, his answers were strange and seemingly cooked up.

Now, St. Mary's University in Halifax has decided to join in the Danton weirdness party.

Right off the top, I have absolutely no problem with Danton attending university and attempting to get an education to improve his life. That's a good thing.

But the fact the Huskies are apparently going to let him play for the varsity hockey team is just so far out there in overall stupidity it, well, has a jarring effect.

The school claims it thought long and hard about this, and that Danton deserves a second chance.

A second chance at what, exactly? A second chance at an education? Sure. 

But a second chance at hockey? Sorry, gentlemen, he's on about his ninth chance. He's a PROFESSIONAL hockey player. Surely that should erase eligibility to play university hockey in Canada, shouldn't it? Excuse my ignorance, but doesn't 161 games of pro hockey somehow make a player still able to play in the CIS? Could Chris Chelios play for U of T if he so desired?

He's also 29 years old with a long rap sheet of misdemeanors and on-ice crimes. In junior hockey, he was a one-man wrecking crew, well, except for the times he was surrounded by the rest of David Frost's gang.

Again, let the man go to school. But let him play CIS hockey? What a dreadful decision. Is the school taking any steps to make sure Frost isn't around or involved? Are they making sure Frost can't attend St. Mary's games? Have they asked Danton, an ex-con, for a more thorough explanation of his past than was demanded on Sportsnet? Will he be carefully watched to make sure he's attending classes and actually working towards graduating?

This, of course, is also a comment on the dirty secret of Canadian university hockey. See, the one thing Danton won't feel in St. Mary's is old. The school carefully avoids listing the ages of its hockey players on its website — sensitive issue, you see — but the entire team is made up of second chances, guys who played in the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League but weren't good enough to go any further.

So now they've found a place to keep playing hockey — for another five years.

The oldest player on the team, Marc Rancourt, is 25. Most of the rest of the roster ranges between 22 and 24 years of age, most in second or third year. Every single one is an ex-major junior player, including former OHLers like Cory Tanaka, Tyler Cuthbert, Cody Thornton and Ryan Rorabeck.

This team isn't much younger than the AHL Toronto Marlies, for goodness sakes. It's a semi-pro team masquerading as a university hockey squad.

So the kid who graduates high school on time and would like to attend university at the age of 18 and perhaps play for his school?

No chance. He'd be competing against players five or six years his senior.

Or in Danton's case, seasoned pros a decade older.

To me, this has always been double-dipping of the worst kind. These young men made the choice to go major junior, played 3-5 years, and are now getting another chance to keep playing in university.

So they were better than the kids of their own group, which is fine, but now they're taking away a hockey opportunity from younger players as well.

Now this Danton story. People in Canada like to look down on some of the recruiting practices in NCAA sports, laugh at the notion of the American "student-athlete."

Well check out the St. Mary's hockey team and you tell me if this is what CIS sports is supposed to be all about.

Now, because Danton can help the Huskies win, he's getting a "second chance."

Sorry, that was about six or seven chances ago.

A student? Sure. But having Danton play CIS hockey is nothing short of embarrassing, both to the school and Canadian university sport.

Comments

[K]

These are two different stories in this article. The first, being about Danton, I can agree with. I would have at least liked to see him complete a full year of classes (with a certain GPA) to have access to all the benefits of being a student (which includes participating in varsity sports).

As for the second story, that Canadian University hockey is some sort of "semi pro league". I don't see what the problem is? The CIS gives junior players (90% of which do not make hockey their profession after they are completed) to get an education after they complete junior hockey. Should they be forced to choose between University and hockey? Why can't they have both? Give it a shot in junior and when it doesn't work out, move on to one of the many great Canadian University's to get an education, still get to play at a competitive level and earn their degree. I don't understand the argument of some 18 year old "wanting to play for his school" and not making it because a 19 or 20 year old is done junior and took his sport. Is it true that there are 24 or 25 year olds playing CIS hockey. Yea, but so what? I don't understand where the problem is. If they want to commit to be in school for their full term and finish their studies, big deal if they finish at 24 instead of 22?

I'm a big fan of CIS hockey and it's one of the better kept secrets in the country for good hockey. These players are not playing for big crowds (many times just a couple of hundred friends and family in many rinks) or accolades. They do it because they want to continue to play the game while preparing for the rest of their life in whatever field they choose.

Good story, just bad argument trying to tie Mike Danton to the rest of the CIS practices.

[nugentmania]

You lost me, Damien. At first I was in agreement with you about Danton. School ye, hockey no. When the parole board bought into his "the person I wanted to kill was my father, not my agent", even after his teenage girlfriend in St. Louis and the hitman she found both said it was Frost, I think reality was lost for Danton in perpetuity. I also agree that the school needed his full agreement that David Frost has no access to anything with him or the school, directly or peripheral. And like you, I can't see any of this ending well......but.....your rant about CIS hockey in general is plain dumb. Kids who play Major Junior should be ineligible to play varsity hockey after they're not of junior age? Wow. I mean...WOW. Here's an idea.,,,,balance your article with junior hockey's dirty little secret.....owners who make $$$$$ using talent who get paid with the dream of playing in the NHL. Oh, and the one perk they actually get.....education money when they finally have time to go to college. You think this is double-dipping? I agree, a 29 year old pro shouldn't be eligible, or any pros for that matter. But kids straight out of junior? I'm almost always in agreement with your logic, but this article makes me think you were bored today. Or wrote it while stuck in traffic.

[Stephen B]

I agree completely. I wonder if this will actually happen. If it does we may end up seeing not just ex major junior players, but more ex pros on CIS teams.

[jeff]

100% agreed on the Danton/St Mary's issue. This is a joke and most likely a misguided stab at some free publicity for St. Mary's. Like you said, when it comes to CIS athlete ages, it's nothing new. Back in the mid-90s, I was at Dalhousie and St Mary's had a 30-something wide receiver on its football team. of course, chances are he wasn't a convicted felon/former sports sideshow.

Aside from this Danton insanity, I don't think CIS hockey should automatically exclude former major jr players, but it should have a better cap on how old those players can be. A guy can play in the OHL from 17-19, then choose to play for his school isn't the problem. It's the 25-year-old who still gets full 4 or 5 yr eligibility that's the problem.

[Tom Beshoff]

Wow. Good reporting, Damien. Obviously there needs to be some housecleaning at the CIS and some rules that protect amateur athletics.

[stickhandle]

wow - you read my mind. as i read about this travesty this morning my first thoughts were "why would they let him play hockey?" and then "where is david frost in all this?". you're right - the man's got a right to pursue and educations ... but play university hockey?? WTF?? If he still has the hockey itch, let him join a men's beer league (if they'll have him - mine wouldn't) and dream about what could have been like the rest of us. I had no idea about the semi-pro university hockey thing ... i always thought it was "generally" a group of guys with good hockey skills (not good enough, mind you, for U.S. college hockey or Junior) seeking an education that happened to still play some good hockey ... learning this "dirty secret" sucks, and i'm disappointed in our system. To St. Mary's management ... i won't feel the least bit sorry for you when the inevitable bad news comes rolling in.

[David]

Well said, Damien. OFSAA has clear eligility rules when it comes to ages of students, including a 5 year rule, that clearly stipulates a student can only play for 5 years after their first year of grade 9, thus eliminating teams from fielding several "grade 14's". Why not at university too?

[Terry Doran, Toronto]

Well said Damien. There is nothing left to say about this farce of a "second chance"......Danton's time has come and gone. St. Marys ought to be ashamed of their "sham" of a hockey program. Get with it boys.....there are many many young, gifted and talented students who would give anything to be in a program such as this one.
The least that St. Marys can do going forward is resurrect what once was a decent hockey program for promising students, and stick to their footprint of past success.
Thanks for this opportunity Damien...keep up that "eagle eye" of yours.

[Richard Avery]

You it it right on the head, Damien. Good for you!

[Andy]

I think the CIS should re evaluate the whole student Idea. The Canadian Major Junior leagues offer post secondary tuition packages to players who forego their NCAA eligibility by playing in the CHL in order to compete with the NCAA. It should be used as a chance to gain the education they gave up while chasing their professional aspirations.

I think it's time to change the CIS rules to something similar or stronger than the NCAA's. Currently, I believe any player who is accredited with playing part or all of a season in the CHL loses a year of NCAA eligibility on a 1:1 basis. This means for every year in the CHL they lose a year of eligibility in the NCAA. NCAA coaches are reluctant to risk taking these players generally because they feel they won't get fair value for their investment.

A little odd considering that Jr. college athletes lose years as well and many of them only seem to "play" an additional year or two after transferring, so what is the difference. In Canada, why can't the CHL player be happy with having a celebrated Jr. career and leave College sports for the academically committed teenager to aspire to?

With the way Western Canada and Quebec have been graduating 26 yr. old freshman from their college system, the 18 year freshman player is as rare in Canada as it is in the USA. There must me money out there for these “holier than thou” institutions to comprises their founded ideals in this way.

I wonder how many more students will go to Queen’s or Western Ontario because of their highly publicized Vanier Cup runs last fall. TV sells baby. A lot of kids want to be on TV even if nobody they know sees them. Look at what they do when the camera pans the stands… it’s rather comical.

So I guess the reason schools like St Mary’s are eager to compromise their principles in this matter is the same as the NCAA is "Cha Ch’ing" MONEY! Money in the form of TV rights fees, increased exposure, increased merchandise sales and increased enrolment.

[Frank]

A couple things. Firstly, this is SMU - no real academic requirements at play here ... they take their athletics very seriously. In a lot of cases (read most), academics is an afterthought.

Secondly, are you that far removed from university sport to know or understand that junior players who have exhausted their eligibility deciding to play university hockey has been going on now for at least 20 years!!!! And not just at SMU but all over the country. You seem so shocked at this notion ... I'm kind of embarassed for you.

This IS university hockey. I think Mount Allison might have been the last team to try and win games using kids out of high school and midget hockey. They dropped their hockey team after a couple of decades of futility. This is the new reality of university hockey.

Cripes, I think there are a couple of hockey programs (Lakehead for sure) who have copied the Laval/Sherbrooke/Montreal football corporate model;meaning that the team is not run by the university at all, but rather by a corporate group.

Don't get me worng - I'm glad you've identified some issues here. It just surprises me that you seem unaware that it has been going on (in a big way) for many, many years.

[2nd Guess]

The article makes an excellent point -- and the notion of an NHL veteran (with a criminal record, no less) playing university hockey is truly ridiculous -- but St. Mary's is hardly an isolated case. In fact, the Canadian Hockey League has a scholarship/bursary plan for major-junior players who go on to attend Canadian universities -- so CIS rosters across the country are peppered with former junior players.

[Steve Cooney]

One of the strongest sports opinion pieces I've read in a long time. Whether you agree with the sentiment or not, it'll get people thinking and talking. Leave the gossip and innuendo to that part of the paper where it belongs. This is what a sports columnist is supposed to do. Take a stance and take a chance.

[I wonder]

Has anyone asked the question "What is St. Mary's offering Mike Danton?"

Is the University providing any sort of scholarship or bursary to Mr. Danton? Is money fundraised from donors, or feed paid by the student body being used to subsidize Mike Danton's tuition at St. Mary's?

Where are the student council president and the student body on this?

And what of the 12th forward who is getting bumped off the roster by Mike Danton? Have we heard from him?

[a levy]

I really keep asking myself who asked you to talk for the world Mister Cox. Everytime I hear or read you your right and everyone else is wrong. It must be nice.

[Shaun]

Hey Damien,

Definitely agreed that it is ridiculous that St. Mary's would let Danton play there, more so for the Frost factor than anything else.

Some food for thought - what about a guy like Joel Ward who plays for Nashville? After playing major junior and not being able to make the Red Wings (who drafted him), decided to get a solid education at U of New Brunswick, while refining his game into a solid two-way player. He is now getting good minutes with a decent Predators team and scored almost 20 goals last year and has a University degree to utilize when his hockey career is over.

While I realize that successful cases like his are few and far between, I know that there are other guys out there trying to do the same thing and shouldn't be discouraged from doing so just because they played major junior hockey.

Keep up the great work Damien.

[I wonder]

Shaun - are we using UNB as a model of academics here?

Sure they're 15-0 on the ice but what can be said for a "school" that brings in players in late September and all through October.

Just what kind of school year allows a 'student' to start their semester in October?

Don't believe me - check the Fredericton Daily Gleaner articles on UNB hockey from last fall.

[Spanky]

First and foremost this convicted criminal is out on parole and I don't want his ragedy ass anywhere near my kids in university. Yeah, he did his time, but a second chance doesn't mean he gets the rewards of our society. My kids along with several thousand other worthy young Canadians put forth SERIOUS scolastic efforts to achieve admittance and not while studying from a jail cell. Secondly, how can anyone this stupid possibly qualify to gain entrance into University. Thirdly, we have men and women serving their country in places like Afghanistan who do not get opportunities for University like this fool. Danton's second chance should be enrollment into the Canadian Armed Forces...but wait, convicted felons are not allowed the privelage to possibly be put in harms way for their country. He had his shot, blew it, time for him to work for a living and we haven't even got started on the hockey question!

[quinto]

leave the guy alone served his time .... must be a slow news day...

[Zac]

Damien -

Life's not fair. If you're not good enough to play on any team, you don't make it (unless you have some sort of insider advantage). If this means some 17-year-old doesn't make it to university hockey right away, that's unfortunate, but the route the other players took (hockey, THEN university) is just as open to the 17-year-old kid. Having said that, it does seem pretty strange that there is no restriction on ex-pros, or even an age restriction on ex-major junior players.

[Mike]

I have some CIS hockey experience and I can tell you that the guys on the team were either Tier 2 junior or Major Junior while two of the guys had actually played pro in the Central Hockey League. One guy actually played NCAA, OHL AND Pro in the CHL. The thing people have to realize is that Major Junior isn't as great as it's cracked up to be. You have maybe 4 guys on each team who will go somewhere and maybe 1 or 2 who will be NHLers. The rest of them are kids who are drafted in the hopes that they might become NHL hockey players. Why do you think that the 18 year old 1st rounders that eventually make the NHL can seemingly score at will? It's because 50% of every major junior team is filled with project players who are 16 years old some of whom can barely skate. Major Junior is promised to so many kids as this gateway to the NHL; when that doesn't come true it's great that hockey players can have a few more years of competitive hockey. Nobody wants to watch a bunch of ankle biting house leaguers represent their University. You want the best possible product on the ice especially in towns where there is an NHL/CHL team to compete with in the same city.

[Rick]

Danton is not going to St. Mary's to get an education. He wants to play hockey again and the only place that will give him a shot is SMU. He's taking 3 credits, the minimum likely needed to play sports. I guess not.
When I was at SMU and Acadia in the late 80's, early 90's, there were former major junior players all over the rosters. Acadia's first three lines and both goaltenders in '88 were from major junior. SMU has a long line of athletes who weren't really scholars, but what Canadian or U.S. college or university hasn't had them? The other thing is, university hockey in Atlantic Canada is not like it is in Ontario. People go to the games, and pack arena's in some cases. Major junior hockey in the region has scaled the crowds back a bit, but I can tell you Acadia has, and in some cases still has, season ticket holders and even scalpers. Dare I even say some players are hired in late August to run hockey camps at the schools and are paid enough money to cover tuition?

Damien does bring up a point that perhaps SMU's Steve Sarty or Trevor Steinburg are not even aware of, and that's the presence of David Frost.

[nugentmania]

From Danton's perspective, this was his only hockey option in North America. Can't play in any pro leagues, there aren't any that are strictly in Canada, where he can legally travel. So maybe he and Frost think this is a good idea until he can get permission to travel in the U.S. The problem with that? It won't happen. Why you ask? Let me tell you. Danton accused the US government of lying about his transfers for several years, which in itself is not a huge issue. The actual problem for him now is what happened after he got transferred to Canada. He changed his story, the same story on which his deal was cut. Now it was no longer his agent he was wanted murdered in his apartment, but it was his estranged father.....who would never have been in his apartment, or had access to it.....but oddly enough, David Frost was in that apartment. That night. I'm embarrassed for the parole board that, in their written reasons for parole, acknowledged it was his father he wanted killed. Even though his teenage girlfriend in St. Louis said differently. As did the man she procured to commit the murder. So.....if anyone thinks the US Dept of Justice is going to lift his ban, think again. His career restarts and ends in Canadian University.

[Rick]

Mike Danton fights, so he's a bad person in Cox's eyes. Nothing more, nothing less.

[John]

The Danton arguement is fine, most would agree that a second chance at St. Marys is probably wrong.
Damien, your agruement against the CIS is an absolute joke. Clearly you need to do a little more research and you may find that the CIS is 1)full of former major junior players who are terific student athletes, and 2) an excellent league that filters players into the ECHL, Europe and even the NHL (e.g Joel Ward). To say former CHL's (who were forced to decide between NCAA and Major Junior at the young age of 15/16) shouldn't have the right to further their education at Canadian University is just short sighted. These players deserve it becasue they'are the best players in Canada who were unable to sign a significant Pro contract. High level players who generated millions of dollars for their junior clubs and were compensated by 30 dollars a week. CIS hockey and their school package is payment for 3 or 4 years of service in the CHL. That is why these former players deserve the CIS before some noboby from midget. They play hockey at an extremely high level (e.g Sask players beating the World Junior team), get their education, and many continue on to Pro careers. That's how Hockey is run in Canada, the best play. How is this a problem? Furthermore, without the chance to have a University package and eligibility in the CIS; many talented CHL players would simply opt to go the NCAA route, severly comprimising the level of the CHL. Damien, you can't be in favor of that.
Damien, most of your opinions are great, but you are way off base in this case. Do some research and tune into this years National Championship.