 |
| Western Hockey League (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Winterhawks were fined $200,000.00 and will also lose the first five rounds of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft but the league was done there, the Winterhawks will also lose their first round draft choices in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Today's announcement, also vindicates Dean Millard who first broke this story back in November and then took some heat for his story from fans of the Portland Winterhawks.
To all the folks who slammed Dean and I after he broke the Portland story 3 weeks ago, what say you now? HUGE penalties from the WHL today
— Guy Flaming (@TPS_Guy) November 28, 2012
Here is a list of the offenses that the Winterhawks committed, and there weren't any violations related to the league’s educational packages.
Portland Winterhawks --- What follows is a summary of the league’s findings, and a statement from Johnston:When the story first emerged, some had thought that the Winterhawks defenseman Seth Jones was part of the violations and it turned out that he wasn't. Apparently, Jones' family adviser/agent is not pleased with these allegations.
The Winterhawks were found to have committed the following violations:
• A player contract signed in 2009, involving flights for the player’s family and a summer training program
• Over the last five years, seven families were provided flights 2-4 times per season based on financial need and their distance from Portland
• Twice in the last five years the team paid for two players to each have a one-week summer training regimen
• The Winterhawks provided a cell phone for its team captain for a period of three seasons
The WHL’s audit found no violations involving monetary payments made to players, their families or agents, or any violations related to the league’s educational packages.
Seth Jones' agent Pat Brisson angry at any implication his client is involved: "This has nothing to do with Seth. Absolutely nothing."
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 28, 2012
Here's Andrew Eide's; editor for the Hockey Writers - Combine and his take on the matter.
