Sherry Bassin continues to deny reports of the Erie Otters’ impending move to Ontario. First, it was Hamilton. Now it’s the Chatham-Kent region.
“Absolutely no truth to it,” Bassin, the OHL club’s managing partner and general manager, said in response to a Chatham-Kent Sports Network report Tuesday stating that a deal has been reached to sell the franchise to a “prominent local businessman.”
Bassin previously has denied reports of the franchise’s potential move to Hamilton, including a report that he has spoken with Michael Andlauer, owner of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, about purchasing the Otters. “Everytime I turn around, I’m going to five different places,” Bassin said.
According to the Chatham-Kent Sports Network report, an announcement regarding the Otters likely would be made following the Memorial Cup, the CHL’s annual championship tournament, which begins Friday and runs through May 26 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Bassin said he continues to receive inquiries about the Otters. “That’s it,” Bassin said, referring to not moving any closer to selling the franchise. Bassin said franchises can’t be sold and moved without approval from the OHL through a lengthy league-mandated process. “The process is so complicated. It’s so involved,” he said.
David Branch, OHL commissioner and CHL president, wasn’t immediately available for comment Wednesday, since he was traveling to Saskatoon.
Bassin, who moved the franchise to Erie from Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1996, has one year left on a two-year lease agreement with the Erie County Convention Center Authority, which operates Erie Insurance Arena. The Otters are set to play the 2013-14 season in a newly renovated arena.
Chatham-Kent Sports Network reported that a recent meeting between the Otters and “the organization that operates their arena” to work on a new lease had been canceled twice in the span of a week. Bassin said he has had no meetings scheduled with the ECCCA. “We’ll look at that. We’ll see how things go,” Bassin said of pursuing a lease beyond next season, referring to waiting to evaluate the final arena renovations and community response toward the team next season. Casey Wells, ECCCA executive director, didn’t immediately respond to a telephone message Wednesday.

- Victor Fernandes

Sherry Bassin continues to deny reports of the Erie Otters’ impending move to Ontario. First, it was Hamilton. Now it’s the Chatham-Kent region.
“Absolutely no truth to it,” Bassin, the OHL club’s managing partner and general manager, said in response to a Chatham-Kent Sports Network report Tuesday stating that a deal has been reached to sell the franchise to a “prominent local businessman.”
Bassin previously has denied reports of the franchise’s potential move to Hamilton, including a report that he has spoken with Michael Andlauer, owner of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, about purchasing the Otters. “Everytime I turn around, I’m going to five different places,” Bassin said.
According to the Chatham-Kent Sports Network report, an announcement regarding the Otters likely would be made following the Memorial Cup, the CHL’s annual championship tournament, which begins Friday and runs through May 26 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Bassin said he continues to receive inquiries about the Otters. “That’s it,” Bassin said, referring to not moving any closer to selling the franchise. Bassin said franchises can’t be sold and moved without approval from the OHL through a lengthy league-mandated process. “The process is so complicated. It’s so involved,” he said.
David Branch, OHL commissioner and CHL president, wasn’t immediately available for comment Wednesday, since he was traveling to Saskatoon.
Bassin, who moved the franchise to Erie from Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1996, has one year left on a two-year lease agreement with the Erie County Convention Center Authority, which operates Erie Insurance Arena. The Otters are set to play the 2013-14 season in a newly renovated arena.
When asked about pursuing a lease extension with the ECCCA, Bassin said, “We’ll look at that. We’ll see how things go.”

- Victor Fernandes

Sherry Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner and general manager, said recently that “there seems to be a fair amount of people that have shown an interest” in purchasing the OHL franchise. Bassin didn’t reveal specifics about potential buyers, although he added that he has received verbal offers.
Yet the Hamilton Spectator in Hamilton, Ontario, has reported that Michael Andlauer, owner of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, has spoken with Bassin about the Otters and with David Branch, OHL commissioner and CHL president, about his interest in purchasing an OHL franchise. According to the Spectator, Andlauer wouldn’t disclose if he and Bassin have discussed a purchase price.
“There’s no doubt the league knows I’m desirous of having a team,” Andlauer told the Spectator. “It’s definitely on my radar. It’s all a matter of timing.”
Bassin, 73, has said he hasn’t received interest locally about buying the franchise. “I’m coming to a point where I am going to sell the team,” he said.
Reports began to surface a season ago linking the Otters with a potential move to Hamilton, Ontario. Then in March 2012, Bassin signed a two-year lease with the Erie County Convention Center Authority, which operates Erie Insurance Arena. The lease expires after the 2013-14 season.

- Victor Fernandes

Toronto – Ontario Hockey League Commissioner David Branch met with representatives of the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club to review the sanctions taken by the league against the Spitfires for violations of the league’s Player Recruitment Policy which resulted in the team having to make a payment of $400,000, losing three first-round draft selections and two second-round draft selections.
During the meeting with the Commissioner, the Spitfires accepted that there were certain violations of the league’s Recruitment Policy. In recognition of the acknowledgement and the cooperation of the Windsor Spitfires, Commissioner Branch modified his earlier decision and the team will pay to the league a payment of $250,000 and will lose a first-round draft pick in 2013, second-round draft pick in 2015, first-round draft pick in 2016 and a second-round draft pick in 2017.
As a result the Windsor Spitfires will not appeal the decision. Neither the league nor the Windsor Spitfires will be making any further comment in relation to this matter.

- From OHL news release

Toronto – There has been much media speculation in the previous two days surrounding the attempted organization of our 1,300 players by an organization called the Canadian Hockey League Players’ Association.

To date, the league has not received any formal notification on the formation of this association or any intent to organize our players.

The CHL is comprised of the Western Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Ontario Hockey League. The league is recognized as the number one player development league in the world for the NHL, Canada’s national teams and Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey.

We are of the opinion that no junior hockey league in the world has made more changes to support the best interest of its players both on and off the ice as the CHL. This is evidenced by our drug education and anti-doping program, our concussion management program, numerous charitable programs and our Respect in Sport program as developed by Sheldon Kennedy in the area of player abuse.

In addition, the CHL provides North America’s best player scholarship program, funded through the league’s ownership.

Our league is comprised of 60 teams, all of which operate as individual corporate entities. Given this structure, any organization drive would be required to be at an individual team level.

- From CHL news release

The Ontario Hockey League announced today that the Windsor Spitfires have been punished for what the league termed as “violations of our Recruitment/Benefit Rules and Policies.”
The club was fined $400,000 and was stripped of five OHL draft picks over the next five years – first-rounders in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and second-rounders in 2015 and 2017. The ruling was handed down based on findings from two separate investigations, the league said in a statement.
“While the penalties may appear to be severe,” OHL Commissioner David Branch said in the statement, “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.”
Branch pointed to the league’s enforcement program, which was developed by the OHL’s Board of Governors in 2009. The program, he said in the statement, “is designed to address and attempt to eliminate violations of the rules and impose appropriate penalties if violations occur.”
The enforcement process,” Branch added, “is an integral part of the process to ensure integrity and fair play among the member teams. One of the fundamental principles of the enforcement process is to ensure that those member teams that are abiding by the rules are not disadvantaged by their commitment to compliance.”
Check out this story from The Windsor Star.

Toronto – The Board of Governors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) have approved the sale of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors to Mississauga businessman Elliott Kerr. Kerr, President of Landmark Sport Group Inc., will be the majority owner and the new franchise will continue to call the Hershey Centre home for the 2012-2013 season.

“We are very excited about the upcoming 2012-13 hockey season as well as the opportunity to continue Major Junior Hockey in our great City of Mississauga,” said Kerr. “I have been a proud resident of Mississauga for 25 years, my six year-old twins are actively involved in minor hockey here, our Mississauga Marathon event will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2013 and our Landmark Sport Group office is based here as well.”

“The Ontario Hockey League is excited to see the expanded involvement of Elliott Kerr in the OHL with his acquisition of the Mississauga franchise,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “ His experience as part of the ownership group with the Guelph Storm and the original Mississauga franchise, along with his passion for the game, family values, and being a Mississauga resident, will undoubtedly serve to see the Mississauga franchise grow and flourish”

Mayor Hazel McCallion is also thrilled to have the team staying in Mississauga “It is wonderful to know that we will continue to have an OHL team in Mississauga under the ownership of Elliott Kerr” said City of Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion. “I encourage community support for hockey at all levels in Mississauga and I am pleased that our residents will continue to enjoy a high caliber of sports entertainment that brings in many visitors to our City.

Under the new ownership, the hockey club will undergo a complete rebranding as the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors name will be returned to the school. We want to thank Eugene Melnyk for supporting minor hockey in Mississauga and for bringing the Majors to this great city. In an effort to engage the residents of Mississauga, the new team will be conducting a “Name the Team Contest” in association with the Mississauga News this week. The team name will be unveiled following the contest.

Coach and General Manager, James Boyd will remain with the team and Kerr has appointed Scott Rogers as Vice President and Director of Business Operations for the club.

- From OHL news release

Niagara C Alex Friesen won’t be suspended for his collision with Erie Otters G Ramis Sadikov in Sunday’s game, OHL vice president Ted Baker confirmed today.

Sadikov suffered an apparent concussion on the play 1 minute, 45 seconds into the game, which forced Otters forward Connor Crisp to enter the game as the emergency goaltender. Friesen received a major charging penalty and game misconduct, which prompted an automatic review by the league.

Yet Baker said league officials “felt it was more a collision as opposed to a player going out of his way to hit the goaltender.” Baker pointed to Sadikov being out of the crease. Baker also said Friesen was looking back at the play as he skated to the net.

In related news, Baker has seen Internet footage of Plymouth RW Tom Wilson‘s hit that injured Otters rookie D Travis Wood in the first period Wednesday at Tullio Arena.

Baker said the play doesn’t warrant an automatic review, since Wilson wasn’t penalized. But league commissioner David Branch plans to review the same Internet footage, and league officials have requested video of the play from the Otters, because Wood was injured and taken to the hospital. If deemed necessary, Baker said league officials will review the play for possible disciplinary action.

Wood was taken off the ice wearing a neck brace and on a backboard and transported to a local hospital. Wood, whose tests were negative, is listed as day-to-day. He was released from the hospital late Wednesday night. He will undergo cognitive tests in the next few days to determine the extent of his injury.

However, the league will conduct an automatic review of Otters RW Johnny McGuire‘s game misconduct Wednesday. He was penalized for being the aggressor in a fight with Wilson seconds after the faceoff that followed Wood’s injury. Baker said the league could issue their rulings as early as later today.

- Victor Fernandes

Check out this New York Times story on what may lie ahead for fighting in junior hockey.

Toronto − The Canadian Hockey League today announced that it has created an advisory board that will help CHL players and graduates navigate through their lives as hockey players, students and professionals.

The Champions Advisory Board will be complemented by an awareness campaign designed to profile league alumni and make more players, families and fans aware of the unique combination of hockey and academic training available to CHL players.

“The Canadian Hockey League offers its players tuition scholarships and life skills that lead to a variety of careers – from law enforcement to medicine to professional athletics,” said CHL President David Branch. “This advisory board gives our players yet another resource to help ensure not only that they have an outstanding experience in the CHL, but also that they are properly prepared for whatever career path that they choose.”

One year of college or university tuition and books is offered for each year of CHL play. In 2009/10 $4.45 million in scholarships was awarded to more than 1,000 players.

The Champions Advisory Board will consist of league alumni and industry leaders in disciplines including academics, fitness, nutrition, sports psychology and day-to-day life in the CHL. Hockey broadcaster and former Medicine Hat Tiger Kelly Hrudey, sports psychologist and former OHL coach (Toronto) Paul Dennis and former QMJHL star (Verdun) turned sports marketer Joel Bouchard are some of the first advisors named to the board.

“Personally, some of my best memories in the game are from the years spent with the Medicine Hat Tigers (1978-1981) when I chose to leave home for the first time,” said Hrudey. “I am proud to help make more North Americans aware of the unique combination of professional-style hockey, education and character building that CHL players receive, and to be a sounding board for players.”

The Champions Awareness campaign will highlight graduates who have used the CHL as a springboard to careers and will also be supported throughout the 2010/11 season by teams and broadcast partners who will profile success stories and share public service announcements during games.

- From CHL news release