Ice Dogs lose first round picks for violating recruitment policies

[NiceDawg]

Originally Posted by strohs

What I find really odd is it coming out three years later .... that’s what’s really bizarre ... someone must’ve had an axe to grind with the Burke’s ...

Hmm, so who were the big names that Niagara acquired mysteriously that year?

[icepuppyfan]

something is rotten in Denmark ..oh wait.. change that to Niagara. However why have fans abandon the team ? nothing changes on the ice or the games for now !

[Blacksox]

Originally Posted by NiceDawg

Not exactly, they went down when they admitted to the allegation.

“All current Niagara IceDogs players and hockey operations staff have no involvement in the sanctions assessed today by the Ontario Hockey League.”

The use of the word “current” sounds like an admission to a violation of some sort by a previous members of the organization. A statement of denial would have indicated that nothing illegal occurred. The IceDogs are clearly acknowledging that something occurred.

Who did it, what did they do and was it done unbeknownst to team management are just some of the questions that need to be answered.

It most likely does not change the ruling, but it would be nice to know what happened. I guess

[Blacksox]

Originally Posted by NiceDawg

Hmm, so who were the big names that Niagara acquired mysteriously that year?

Tyler Boston

[Red]

Other sites are reporting Zack Wilkie was lured from the US with the promise of an alleged bonus. When he turned out to be "average" the alleged bonus was cancelled. Who knows if it happened, if it was a scout or a former GM that supposedly made a deal. I find it tough to believe anyone would pay for Wilkie!

[fishfan51]

Originally Posted by Blacksox

“All current Niagara IceDogs players and hockey operations staff have no involvement in the sanctions assessed today by the Ontario Hockey League.”

The use of the word “current” sounds like an admission to a violation of some sort by a previous members of the organization. A statement of denial would have indicated that nothing illegal occurred. The IceDogs are clearly acknowledging that something occurred.

Who did it, what did they do and was it done unbeknownst to team management are just some of the questions that need to be answered.

It most likely does not change the ruling, but it would be nice to know what happened. I guess

Weren’t the Burke brothers part of the management team in 2016? Joey as Asst GM, Billy as Asst coach? If this is a money thing, meaning a player was getting paid something he shouldn’t, I wouldn’t think it would be coming out of Williamson’s pocket. I’d guess it would be the owner cutting the cheque so to speak. Don’t the Dogs have the same owners as they did in 2016?

I honesty don’t care if the Dogs were cheating. I’d think you’d have to be pretty naive to not think that every team in the league is doing stuff they shouldn’t in some capacity. I’ve read a few quotes from media types that have said “to get caught, you’d have to be some kind of stupid or you screwed someone over pretty bad”.

I’m wondering which one it was in this case.

[Red]

Originally Posted by icepuppyfan

something is rotten in Denmark ..oh wait.. change that to Niagara. However why have fans abandon the team ? nothing changes on the ice or the games for now !

I could care less about these allegations. I feel bad for the team and sorry for the Burke's. If it's true, and that's a big IF then it is likely something that goes on all over the league only on a much larger scale. It won't stop me from going to a single game but I suspect beer just went up in price and the 50/50 is going to be a 70/30.

[dogged74]

Ahh yes. Our old buddy Tyler Boston.
Perhaps this will be the impetus needed for the OHL to clarify some of its murkier rules.

[Red]

Originally Posted by fishfan51

Weren’t the Burke brothers part of the management team in 2016? Joey as Asst GM, Billy as Asst coach? If this is a money thing, meaning a player was getting paid something he shouldn’t, I wouldn’t think it would be coming out of Williamson’s pocket. I’d guess it would be the owner cutting the cheque so to speak. Don’t the Dogs have the same owners as they did in 2016?

I honesty don’t care if the Dogs were cheating. I’d think you’d have to be pretty naive to not think that every team in the league is doing stuff they shouldn’t in some capacity. I’ve read a few quotes from media types that have said “to get caught, you’d have to be some kind of stupid or you screwed someone over pretty bad”.

I’m wondering which one it was in this case.

If you trusted the head coach and GM and the assistants were just on the sidelines oblivious - that would certainly be a good reason to fire the guy and replace him with people you trust (aka family). You don't need a chequebook to make a promise and as the new GM you can't honor a promise you knew nothing about. Imagine a player graduating from the OHL trying to collect money from a team for a side deal that was made by a former GM. I am betting lots of has-been players try to squeeze bucks out of teams when their NHL dreams don't come true.

[AuldBone]

Originally Posted by Blacksox

Tyler Boston

That was my first thought as well...