Orillia Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) President Steve Fagan has resigned from the local sports organization's board of directors, effective immediately.
The announcement was confirmed by the association’s director of social media, Derek Tilley, who said Fagan did not provide a specific reason for his resignation.
The unexpected departure of Fagan comes just two days after Orillia Minor Hockey announced that members voted to amalgamate with Oro Minor Hockey. The amalgamation, referred to as the Rep Reorganization, is awaiting approval from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), with a decision expected on Jan. 28.
Tilley said Orillia Minor Hockey has not received any updates regarding OMHA’s decision.
When asked about rumours swirling around Fagan's resignation and the impact it might have on the recent vote, Tilley said: “That’s all rumour at this point. I personally haven’t seen anything that would confirm anything.”
In the wake of Fagan’s resignation, the Orillia Minor Hockey Association's board of directors is discussing the next steps to fill the leadership void. According to Tilley, the board plans to appoint an interim president for the remainder of the year, followed by a formal vote for a new president next year.
“Most likely, the next steps will be to find an interim president for this year, and then we will move forward with a vote for next year to solidify a president for Orillia Minor Hockey,” Tilley said.
“Our concerns right now are for Orillia Minor Hockey, and we will wait to hear from OMHA and the Ontario Hockey Federation on whether their decision is one of approval or dismissal.”
Tilley emphasized the board remains committed to serving the children and members of the association.
“Right now, for the board members that are still here, our No. 1 priority is to put the best product and program together to obviously challenge the youth that are a part of our organization, but also give them a safe space to enjoy activity and the sport of hockey,” he said.
Tilley also confirmed that Paul Munro, the director of house league for U7 to U11 teams, has also resigned from the Orillia Minor Hockey Association.
The timing of Fagan’s resignation is notable, as Oro Minor Hockey President Darrel Woodley also appears to have recently stepped down. The Oro Minor Hockey website lists the president position as vacant.
Fagan declined to comment for this article.
