University of Alberta Recruiting and Retaining Canadian Minor Hockey Players by Local Youth Club Hockey Organizations, Canada’s Governing Hockey Organizations, Major Junior, and Intercollegiate Hockey Organizations: Exploring Canada’s Elite Level Hockey Development System by Jonathon R. J. Edwards A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation ©Jonathon R.J. Edwards Fall of 2012 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. ABSTRACT There are two pivotal transition points for Canadian elite level minor hockey players and parents; the first transitional point is when a Canadian player and parent is transitioning from the Peewee (11-12 years old) level to the Bantam (13- 14 years old) level, and must decide whether to try out for club level hockey or continue to play at a house league level. The second transitional point is between the ages 14 to 16 years old where a Canadian elite level player and parent has three pathways to choose from: the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), and/or National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I hockey. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to explore the strategies, processes, and support mechanism implemented by local youth hockey clubs, Canadian governing hockey bodies, Major Junior, and Intercollegiate hockey organizations (henceforth, Hockey Organizations) in Canada and United States with respect to the recruitment and retention of the most talented elite level hockey players in Canada’s Elite Level Hockey Development System (CELHDS). The methods of data collection used were interviews and secondary sources (e.g., documents). Interviews were conducted with representatives from local youth hockey clubs from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and the governing hockey bodies in Canada and Alberta; along with the experts who have a direct knowledge and experience with the CHL, CIS, and the NCAA. A three study format was used for this dissertation; the first study explored the player retention strategies and regulations that can be influential in a player’s and parent’s decision regarding trying out for club level hockey or continuing with community level hockey. The second study explored club hockey manager’s recruiting, hiring, and retaining processes to have the most qualified coach to represent the club hockey organization. The final study examined the CHL, CIS, and NCAA support mechanisms provided to their member organizations for the recruitment of Canadian minor hockey players. Based on the findings from the three case studies, management of the Hockey Organizations take a professional approach to the recruitment and retention of the most talented Canadian elite level minor hockey players. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS During the past six years, a number of individuals have helped make it possible for me to complete my doctoral dissertation. First to my understanding and beautiful wife Krystal Edwards: You have stuck with me and supported me through this entire process, and I cannot express enough how much that means to me. Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated. Secondly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Raepple and Mary Raepple for their support. Their tireless efforts have helped me through this process. When I encountered highs and lows during this project, you were always there for me – no matter what time of day it was – and I thank you for that. The third individual I would like to thank is Dr. Marvin Washington. You took me on as a student and enhanced my knowledge of the research process, and have pushed me to succeed. Your tireless efforts are much appreciated, and the skills that you have provided me with have helped prepare me for future endeavors in the field of sport management research and for that I thank you. To my supervisory committee, Dr. Daniel Mason, Dr. James Denison, Dr. Trish Reay and Dr. Christine Green, the time you invested in assisting me was greatly appreciated and has helped me immensely to develop as an academic. Finally, I would like to thank the following individuals: Art Riendeau, Cory Kulczycki, Sadie Hollohan, Mathew Dowling, Iva Docekalova, and Brandy Chapman. You all have taken time to support me and some of you read this dissertation and have provided me with valuable feedback. You have been a great sounding board for when I encountered problems, and I thank you for that. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me through this process; I truly could have not completed this project without your help. Thank you. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1 The Hockey Organizations (The Empirical Domain of this Research) 5 Club Hockey Organizations 5 Governing Bodies 8 The CHL 9 The CIS 10 The NCAA 11 The Purpose of This Research 13 Methods 15 Data Collection 16 Data Analysis 18 Professionalization 18 Rationales for Conducting this Research 23 Recruitment 23 Retention 25 Recruitment and Retention 26 Empirical Setting: The CELHDS 27 Overview of the Dissertation Format 29 References 31 Chapter 2: COMMUNITY LEVEL VERSUS CLUB LEVEL HOCKEY: A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE TO RETAINING ELITE LEVEL YOUTH ATHLETES IN ALBERTA 45 Introduction 45 Research Setting: Club Hockey Organizations and Canadian Governing Hockey Bodies 52 Retention 54 Methods 56 Data Collection 56 Data Analysis 60 Findings 64 Residential Boundary Regulations 66 Player Development 70 Facility Ownership 76 Performance- Driven Outcomes 79 Information Sharing 82 Discussion and Conclusion 85 The Club Hockey System 85 Technical Core 86 Boundary Spanning Units 87 Conclusion Relative to Future Directions 88 References 93 Chapter 3: RECRUITING, HIRING, AND RETAINING HOCKEY COACHES: THE IMPACT OF COACHING ON CLUB HOCKEY ORGANIZATIONS IN ALBERTA 99 Introduction 99 Understanding of the Concepts: Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention 103 The Coaching and Hockey Literature as it Pertains to This Study 106 Method 107 Data Analysis 110 Findings 114 Recruitment Processes 114 Coach Hiring Processes 119 Coaching Retention Processes 123 Discussion 131 Conclusion and Contributions 134 Contributions 136 References 140 Chapter 4: CHOOSE ME, CHOOSE ME!: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY INTO THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR CANADIAN ELITE LEVEL HOCKEY PLAYERS 148 Introduction 148 Research Setting: CHL, CIS, and NCAA 152 CHL 152 CIS 154 NCAA 155 Theoretical Framework 155 The Concept of Recruitment in Relation to This Study 158 Methods 162 Data Collection 163 Data Analysis 164 Findings 167 College Hockey Inc. 168 Eligibility Regulations 168 Recruitment Regulations 171 Scholarship Programs 175 Strategic Alliances 178 Discussion 183 Credibility 184 Legitimacy 188 Conclusion and Contributions 190 Contributions 191 References 194 Chapter 5: DISCUSSION 204 Specialization 208 Formalization 214 Professionalization in the Implementation of Strategies, Processes, and Support Mechanisms 218 Possible Outcomes of Management’s Professionalized Approach in the CELHDS 220 Negative Outcomes of a Professionalized Approach 220 Positive Outcomes of a Professionalized Approach 222 References 225 Chapter 6: CONCLUSION, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA 229 Contributions 233 Player and Coach Recruitment and Retention 233 The Sport of Hockey 237 A Professionalized Approach by the Management of Sport Organizations 240 Future Research Agenda 242 References 244 APPENDIX A: Player Pathway to Being a Professional Hockey Player and the Organizations Involved the CELHDS 248 APPENDIX B: Franchises that Comprise Three Leagues of the CHL 249 APPENDIX C: Universities that Participate in Hockey within the CIS 250 APPENDIX D: NCAA Division I Schools that Participate in Hockey 251 APPENDIX E: Sample Information Letter for Club Hockey Organizations 252 APPENDIX F: Sample of the Consent Form used for Club Hockey Organizations 254 APPENDIX G: Interview Guide for Club Hockey Organizations 255 APPENDIX H: Sample Interview Guide for the Governing Hockey Bodies 256 APPENDIX I : Sample Information Letter for the Institutions Involved in Canada’s Elite Level Hockey Development System 257 APPENDIX J: Sample of the Consent Form used for Institutions 259 APPENDIX K: Sample Interview Guide for the Institutions 260 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Research Papers, Organizations, and Conceptual/Theoretical Frameworks Addressed 15 Table 2.1: Organizations and Interviewee Codes 59 Table 2.2: Examples of Interviewees Responses that Identify with First and Second Order Constructs 63 Table 3.1: First Order (Themes) and Second Order (Processes) Constructs 113 Table 4.1: Examples of Interviewees Responses that Identify with First and Second Order Constructs 167 Table 4.2: Sources of Talent From 2000 to 2010 in the NHL Draft From All Rounds 181 Table 5.1: The Findings from Chapter 2, 3, and 4 in Relation to Three Analytical Categories