Suspension of the British Columbia Ball Hockey Association (BCBHA) won鈥檛 have a direct impact on regional organizations like the Langley-based Valley Ball Hockey Association (VBHA).

On Friday, April 12, the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) board of directors announced its directors had unanimously decided to suspend the BCBHA from full membership status over allegations that included having an alleged sex offender as a director

In response to a Black Press Media query, a statement was issued on Monday, April 15, by VBHA vice-president Alex Joehl on behalf of the association鈥檚 board of executives, that said there would be no suspension of operations or play.

鈥淭here will be no interruption to play for our 850 players and we as a league, we鈥檝e been told, will continue to have full access to provincial tournaments, national tournaments, as well as the Western Challenge Cup,鈥� Joehl said.

Noting that a member of the BCBHA executive 鈥渁llegedly holds a criminal record,鈥� the VBHA statement said it expects that 鈥減roper precautions have been taken to mitigate risk to the youth ball hockey players.鈥�

鈥淭he VBHA Board of Executives is refraining from further comment concerning any of these issues until BCBHA has had an opportunity to appeal the CBHA ruling,鈥� the statement said.

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CBHA president Tim McKenzie said the decision to suspend was reached 鈥渇ollowing allegations of conduct that violate the CBHA Code of Conduct,鈥� pending a full investigation.

An April 10 letter from McKenzie to the Delta-based B.C. association listed nine alleged infractions, including bylaws that are not compliant with the B.C. Societies Act, 鈥減resence of an alleged convicted criminal and alleged sex offender within BCBHA鈥檚 directorship,鈥� allegations of 鈥渇inancial and operational irregularities鈥� and allowing minor ball hockey associations to 鈥渆ngage in discriminatory boycotts.鈥�

鈥淭he aggregation of these issues paints a picture of an organization that has strayed significantly from the core values and objectives of fair play and the CBHA,鈥� McKenzie said.

鈥淭he foregoing allegations and concerns outlined involving, but not limited to, abuse of power, lack of transparency, misrepresentations, and disregard for inclusivity and equity, has led to a loss of trust and integrity in ball hockey governance in BC.鈥�

Black Press Media has reached out to the BCBHA.

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