The Marlboro president asked Neville to release the star goaltender of his team in Markham to the Marlies for the duration of the playoffs. The next day, Markham goalie Matt George turned down the offer, saying he did not want to be responsible for the Marlie goalie being removed from the lineup. Marlboro officials had no such concern about the humiliation and betrayal of a youngster who came out to games and practices during the season and had been loyal to the team. Neville and other coaches say minor hockey's obsession with winning is the most destructive element of the Canadian youth system. Moreover, it is one of the fundamental reasons the country is no longer producing top-level talent.
Canadian children play in an environment that stresses winning over developing skills.
Coaches, desperate for victory, use only their best players in key games. They teach defence and intimidation rather than offence and creativity. Instead of learning the game, the focus is on playing. In Canada, children as young as 6 participate in twice as many games as practices. In the old days, Canadian children learned fundamentals on rinks and ponds away from organized hockey.