David Branch threw the book at the Windsor Spitfires
today.
Today, the Ontario Hockey League commissioner fined the Spitfires
$400,000 and took away three first round draft picks and two second round picks
for violating “the League’s Player Benefit and Recruitment Rules and Policies.”
“The League conducted two separate investigations led by
our Director of Security and Enforcement, and in considering all the facts, I
was persuaded that the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club violated the League’s
Player Benefit and Recruitment Rules and Policies,” Branch stated in a release.
“While the penalties may appear to be severe, the League and its Member Teams
recognize for any such violations of our Recruitment/Benefit Rules and
Policies, we must send a strong message to preserve the integrity of our
League.”
According to the release, the Spits must “forfeit 1st round
selections in the annual OHL Priority Selection in the years 2013, 2014, 2016,
and 2nd round selections in the OHL Priority Selection Process for the years
2015 and 2017.” Ouch.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek tweets that the investigation began
in 2010 and involves multiple players. It’s unknown which players were involved.
The Spitfires are, of course, appealing.
The timing of this announcement is quite interesting with
the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers currently suing the University of Michigan student newspaper
for making allegations about recruitment violations. But, according to the Waterloo Region Record today, the league also looked into that case and found that
no rule violations were made.
These are interesting times. The CHL vs NCAA drama isn’t
going away anytime soon.
Luckily, they have a couple of Memorial Cups to collect their tears.
ReplyDeleteThis changes nothing, since they can draft "long shots" in the 3rd round and later, and have them miraculously change their minds on the eve of training camp. All they need is better due diligence in covering the paper trail.
Players and parents who took signing bonuses, which they knew were not allowed, should be punished also. It seems a shame for Windsor to take the full hit. All the divas who think they were well worth the signing bonus they got should have to pay the money toward Windsor's fine!
ReplyDelete