sws4420
11-25-2005, 01:09 PM
OHA suspends Port Hope Predators coach, fines team $4,000
PORT HOPE - A six-pack of incidents which bordered from hazing to general misconduct in the eyes of the Ontario Hockey Association has resulted in Port Hope Predators Coach Bret Meyers being suspended for one year from the league.
“Not all the incidents were hazing in nature but there is a duty of care which was neglected,” says Brent Ladds, OHA president. “Some of the incidents the coach was not aware of but it is our position that he ought to have been aware of them.”
The OHA completed its six-week investigation of the Port Hope squad on Thursday, Nov. 24 which was first generated by a mock brawl players held on a downtown Port Hope street and nearby bridge on Oct. 11. Port Hope police dismissed the incident as a team issue even though an initial report indicated the event may have been part of a hazing or initiation ritual.
During its investigation the league was able to confirm there had been: under-age drinking at a non-sanctioned team party; a team-building paint-ball event in which rookies were isolated; a ‘Kangaroo Court’ incident where players were made to ride a stationary bike naked while they were paddled with hockey sticks and a ‘Hot Box’ where players on a bus were made to strip naked and forced into the bus washroom to dress into their clothes.
The investigation also focused on an allegation of diapering of players until they defecated but Mr. Ladds noted that activity could not be “validated. We have left the issue open about the diapering. We are not satisfied we have found everything about that.”
“What people are forgetting is that the OHA investigation of our hockey club was not caused by whether our coach, management or ownership are bad people,” says Tim Clayden, general manager of the club. “It was the inappropriate and immature behaviour of our players that caused this. Now their friend and head coach is paying the price for their actions.”
The hockey club was also fined $4,000 by the OHA.
http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/nn/news/story/3181093p-3685243c.html
PORT HOPE - A six-pack of incidents which bordered from hazing to general misconduct in the eyes of the Ontario Hockey Association has resulted in Port Hope Predators Coach Bret Meyers being suspended for one year from the league.
“Not all the incidents were hazing in nature but there is a duty of care which was neglected,” says Brent Ladds, OHA president. “Some of the incidents the coach was not aware of but it is our position that he ought to have been aware of them.”
The OHA completed its six-week investigation of the Port Hope squad on Thursday, Nov. 24 which was first generated by a mock brawl players held on a downtown Port Hope street and nearby bridge on Oct. 11. Port Hope police dismissed the incident as a team issue even though an initial report indicated the event may have been part of a hazing or initiation ritual.
During its investigation the league was able to confirm there had been: under-age drinking at a non-sanctioned team party; a team-building paint-ball event in which rookies were isolated; a ‘Kangaroo Court’ incident where players were made to ride a stationary bike naked while they were paddled with hockey sticks and a ‘Hot Box’ where players on a bus were made to strip naked and forced into the bus washroom to dress into their clothes.
The investigation also focused on an allegation of diapering of players until they defecated but Mr. Ladds noted that activity could not be “validated. We have left the issue open about the diapering. We are not satisfied we have found everything about that.”
“What people are forgetting is that the OHA investigation of our hockey club was not caused by whether our coach, management or ownership are bad people,” says Tim Clayden, general manager of the club. “It was the inappropriate and immature behaviour of our players that caused this. Now their friend and head coach is paying the price for their actions.”
The hockey club was also fined $4,000 by the OHA.
http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/nn/news/story/3181093p-3685243c.html