Time to solidify hockey co-op procedures

We’re in the thick of the high school hockey season and we have seen it all to this point. Some top teams have remained on top, some have fallen off, some risers have made a splash. It has been a little bit of everything.
Although it makes the race fun to watch, I must admit, it has only grown tougher to keep track of the many co-ops in the state. Hockey numbers are down overall in public schools and even private schools have seen players exit for other prep schools. It is what it is, but what it is is a headache.
My point is that it is time for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League to start looking to build some consistency in its hockey leagues.
It seems like the past few years, it has been a hodgepodge of teams bouncing around. Yes, there are rules and parameters that must be adhered to and are, but those parameters have to change, starting with providing schools with a larger window of time to develop as co-ops.
Look at Pilgrim and Toll Gate.
The Warwick co-op was given three seasons and ultimately, it ended up thriving with the final year ending in a deep Division I playoff run. If you recall, the “Militia” reached the semifinals and nearly got the job done in an epic battle. The co-op disbanded the following season.
I am thrilled to see Toll Gate land on its feet and find something good with East Greenwich. The team struggled in Division I but seems to have found a home in DII this season as it sits in first place. Pilgrim’s numbers have taken a step back, though, with even more seniors set to leave next year.
Pilgrim has remained competitive and still has a few of the best players in the state on its roster, but like any high school varsity hockey team, it could use all the bodies it can get.
You look at a few three, four-team co-ops and it makes you wonder why some teams like Pilgrim have to see their numbers drop while other co-ops are growing. Unfortunately, even if another school joins forces with Pilgrim next season that will mean another team in the state will suffer the loss of depth and numbers.
I had several people complain to me last season about the Blackstone Valley Schools co-op, people both within my coverage area and out. The big complaint was that certain schools were favored when it came to playing time and opportunities. Other issues revolved around the logistics of having so many kids from so many different towns coming together. Those issues exist in many co-ops, but BVP was last year’s prime example.
Instead of changing and evaluating on a year-to-year basis, teams should spend this upcoming offseason assessing their respective situations, and then the league should do one sweeping realignment and leave things along for four years. Allow teams to develop instead of playing this game of speed dating for another year.

The NFL playoffs are in full swing and we saw a wild ending in the AFC Divisional matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
By now, most of you have seen the ending sequence. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson led the team down the field in the final two minutes to give the team a chance to tie the score and likely send the game to overtime. On the 2-point conversion, tight end Mark Andrews dropped a routine pass which effectively ended the game.
Since the error, Andrews has been dealt a ton of criticism. Although it was an inexcusable drop, it was one of those terrible situations where he is getting hammered for simply making a mistake at the wrong time.
The Ravens had plenty of opportunities in this game. Jackson had a few overthrows, the offensive line did not play great, the Baltimore defense was streaky. We’ll forever remember Andrews’ drop due to the timing, which is unfortunate, because he has been a key piece to that team’s success for the last few years. The Ravens would not have made it that far without him.
Football is the ultimate team sport (cliché alert). There are usually well over 100 plays in a game and hundreds more mistakes that are made. Sure, Andrews dropped the ball (pun intended), but let’s not forget how imperfect the Ravens’ performance was on the night. Sometimes, good just is not enough, and the Ravens were simply good, not great.