Actions taken against Windsor Spitfires.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From OHL:

The Ontario Hockey League, (OHL), has levied fines totaling $400,000.00 against the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club and taken away three 1^st round draft selections and two 2^nd round draft selections from the Spitfires.

...

This, apparently, is the new blueprint of how you build a Memorial Cup champion team, as long as you don't get caught. Who knows, other CHL teams may be investigated later.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

I read the article but im still not sure what exactly happened. Will someone please explain?

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Illegal monetary enticements, in the eyes of the OHL, to play for their team.

[evilmrt 636]

Wow, and everyone here on LGW wanted Bob Boughner on the Wings' coaching staff. Windsor Star sez:

The Windsor Spitfires have denied any wrongdoing after the club was handed a $400,000 fine and stripped of three future first-round draft picks and two future second-round picks by the Ontario Hockey League Friday.

The unprecedented penalties were the result of two investigations by the league that determined the club had violated the league’s player benefit and recruitment rules and policies.

“The league conducted two separate investigations led by our director of security and enforcement (Ken Miller),” OHL commissioner David Branch said. “In considering all the facts, I was persuaded that the Windsor Spitfires hockey club violated the league’s player benefit and recruitment policies.

“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.”

Windsor will lose its first-round pick in 2013, 2014 and 2016 as well as second-round picks in 2015 and 2017.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, the Spitfires denied any wrongdoing.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Warren "Deep Pockets" Rychel: guilty as charged.

[number9 3,297]

GO WHALERS f*** THE SPITS

[detsportsfan 0]

Unless their championships are forfeited I think the league failed in this situation, and the Spitfires get away with it. Three 1st round picks, two 2nds, and $400,000 (which is chump change for the owner I'm sure) is well worth it to turn one of the worst teams in to back-to-back memorial cup champions and create huge media attention through the championships/star players, which I'm sure in turn made them a lot more than the $400,000. I guarantee you they would do it all over again if they had a chance.

Edited August 10, 2012 by detsportsfan

[Bar Down 107]

I work for a small market team in the WHL and everyone in our organization is ecstatic that a deep-pocketed, privately owned team is finally being held accountable. Teams like the Spitfires, London Knights and Portland Winterhawks have been screwing over the rest of the teams that can't afford to hand over stacks of under the table money to European and American talent for far too long.

[detsportsfan 0]

Kitchener too, I'm sure most teams do it on a small scale but those are the teams paying the huge bucks to bring in the star players.

[Jaymister 71]

To little to late, they already got their titles.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

There was another recent incident involving Kitchener of the OHL, but they seem to be handling it in their own way,

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From Windsor Star:

The Windsor Spitfires have officially informed the Ontario Hockey League that they intend to appeal the sanctions handed down Friday by the Ontario Hockey League.

...

I hope it's got a lot more substance than, "Well, London does it!"