Major Smack-Down for Portland Winterhawks
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 @ 1:37 PM
Prince George, B.C. – The Portland Winterhawks of the WHL have been slapped with a fine of $200 thousand dollars, their General Manager and Head Coach Mike Johnston has been suspended for the balance of the 2012-13 season, including the 2013 WHL Playoffs and the team has been suspended from taking part in the first five rounds of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, plus, must forfeit their first round selections in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 WHL Bantam Drafts.
The discipline follows an investigation of a series of player benefit violations that have occurred over the past 4 seasons.
“All WHL Clubs understand they are required to fully comply and respect our League Regulations or they will face significant consequences,” stated WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “WHL Clubs are required to fully disclose all commitments they make to a player in the WHL Standard Player Agreement. Our independent investigation in this case revealed there were multiple violations over an extended period for player benefits that are not permitted under WHL Regulations and were not disclosed to the WHL.”
The nature of the violations has not been detailed, however, Robison says there was no evidence of any payments or enhanced education benefits being passed on to players.
Comments
And they will still beat the Cougars.
This report made no cents. It should not have been posted without more detail. The players didn’t benefit! Who did? The smack-down seems very very severe. I think it wil be appealed successfully. Not that one would know what they did wrong from this report.
There was three major offences.
1. Air plane flights for the families to go to Portland several times a year.
2. The captain got a cell phone paid for by the team
3 The key players got extra training paid for by the team over the summer
what would be the consequences if the offences were NOT paid by the hockey team, but by a team booster?? similar to american college football and basketball.
these are the offences for that penalty . wow a bit excessive.
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