Wednesday News
| BTW, in case I haven't mentioned it... Silly Season is in full force. Man, I hate leading with this... Fort Vancouver held a formal press conference yesterday. Gary Unger and Ricky Smith were present from the WHA to welcome Fort Vancouver into the league. Also present were the usual suspects - Joe Loftgren, Brian Cheek and new head coach Jon MacWilliams. The local paper was there, but given their track record we won't see anything printed until next next week... Craig Hartsburg keeps on as Canada's coach for the junior worlds... Everett Silvertips lose Kevin Constantine to the Houston Aeros... Chilliwack Bruins extend contract of GM Darrell May... Monroe Gladiators? Yeah, sounds like a Federal League team name... QMJHL annual league meetings start today... Drake Berehowsky named Barrie's assistant coach... Fan group rates 2005 Memorial Cup in London still the best... This is where I grouse and lament that I can't offer up a much bigger story this morning. And no, it's nothing to do with Fort Vancouver. Still, I must learn patience and leave you with the words of someone whose name I forget: Norse tax toadstool bed, testicular yen go on... Labels: Fort Vancouver, OHL, QMJHL, WHA, WHL |
posted by Marc Foster at 5/30/2007 06:47:00 AM
Comments on "Wednesday News"
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Anonymous said ... (11:25 AM, October 09, 2007) :
post a commentI almost can't believe MacWilliams is back in Junior Hockey. I said almost because I have seen things as strange in the past, but still makes me shake my head.
How is it that Jeremy Law gets his balls to the bandsaw over the Tilt deal, yet MacWilliams walks free, when it was CLEARLY MacWilliams who was most culpable of all??
you want to point us to some proof (re: MacWilliams)?
So if McWilliams is so guilty why wasn't he arrested and tried? Is there still an investigation? Do your homework on the Ft Vancouver deal from last year. The court documents are open for public review at the Clark County Courts, located in Vancouver, Washington. And if your too lazy and have to ask me to show the proof then your too lazy to find the truth. For whatever reason you dislike McWillams or the Pioneers thats your business. If you dont like my opinion then dont print yours. Yes I do realize there are parents of players from the team last year that maybe didn't like the way things were run. You can't please everybody. As far as finding guilt in an individual or organization and courts find in their favor, I am glad that some people weren't made judge and jury, because in their opinion its guilty til you prove yourself innocent. And yes maybe I didn't like the way some things were ran on the team last year but you know what. I took it up with management and coaches then felt alot better about how either things were changed or their ideals. I didn't have to air it out in a forum to feel vindicated. As far Marc Foster, I don't always agree with what he has to say but I do thank the man for allowing us to say our views. So until such time that COURTS find people guilty they are still innocent until proven guilty.BTW, I wont hide behind the anonymous tag. I'll leave my first name for those who know me know what my function was for the team.
what ever happened to the coach (Law) and GM (MacWilliams) after the dust settled over the tilt scandal stuff? Were there fines or penalties, etc?
Hey Rocco, you blowhard! No one was bitching about FTV. The gripe was about his shady dealings in Tuscon. Get over yourself. MacWilliams ruined a lot of things for a lot of people (most importantly, the PLAYERS) in his Tilt dealings. Then he went to Topeka to peddle his wares there and succeeded in making an even bigger ass of himself. I can't imagine how Jeremy Law was suspended from USA Hockey (pending appeal) for a year, while MacWilliams was free to continue his pattern of lies and deceit.
rocco - if all were so innocnet, then why would they accept the condistion of the deal which banned them from USA Hockey??? "Innocent" people don't agree to scuh things...normally.
And the WHA is non USA Hockey sanctioned...
I'm going to make a point of getting to the first Ft Vancouver game of the WHA season. I want to see what happens when all these people get together in one rink!
The FTV coach and pres accepted a 'voluntary' ban in order for the TEAM TO NOT BE PENALIZED. None of the allegations were the teams (players) fault. The allegations were against the management -- NOT the kids. In otherwords, they took the fall for the team so they could continue. Mike Butters was spear heading a plea for NORPAC to penalize the players (the team) and not allow them to play. (**didn't work by the way - he didn't get the full support he needed)
Your right (above) no one was bad mouthing FTV. There is just concern for the newly announced coach and his past.
Ever googled his name? There is reason to be concerned.
Hey - if he's just coaching and doesn't have any access to the checkbook, I'm ok with it.
And it really doesn't make sense, why Law gets the 1 year suspension when it was MacWilliams who collected the money and wrote the checks. HOW does $150,000 disappear in (4) months? WHY didn't MacWilliams write the checks to pay the rent for the players, when he was given the money on the 1st of each month?
USAH is penalizing the wrong guy. And FTV is not as business savvy as I thought if they are bringing this guy on board, knowing what went on with the Tucson Tilt. FTV is a pretty well to do organization -- be very careful..do not let MacWilliams take it down too.
Word on the street is he and his wife like to 'party' ..Las Vegas?? any where else??
WHA is an "Independent" league.
I'd love to have someone substantiate the claims against McWilliams. It seems to be alot of hearsay. If he really "embezzled" money, were the police involved and if so why is he not in prison.
As a former player of the fort worth texans. jeremy Law didnt have anything to do with the team going under. tim best who must be related to macwilliams, made bad decisions regarding money.
and why isn't USA Hockey enforcing a ban or suspension like they are for Law?
how come Law is up against USAH and not Best or MacWilliams?
Maybe MacWilliams has access to FTV's team of attorneys.
Jeremy Law is not under suspension by USA Hockey.
sheesh, no one has mentioned that Constantine picks up a new job. Funny, I don't think he was looking....
Marc, tell your readers i appreciate all the comments.positive or negative, my phone has been ringing off the hook with parents and kids looking to play here!
Curtale gone???
Mark - what are you hearing on this?
Constantine's departure is indeed noted in the above blog post...
Yes that was me!
Jon MacWilliams
re: Curtale - Official word last night is that he will be at the team's camp in Detroit tomorrow. This is a non-story until the floodgates break open...
No, look up in the body of the post from this morning: "Everett Silvertips lose Kevin Constantine to the Houston Aeros..."
smells like a spin on Constantine. could heavy fines have anything to do with it?
Jon MacWilliams!
Are you kidding me!
To Rocco and MacWilliams fans
Do not think that MacWilliams is innocent because the police haven't arrested him yet. It is nice to see he has surfaced and his name is in the papers, because it now makes it easier to find him. Boy, Jon must have really sold you guys a bill of goods for you to hire him as a coach, hopefully he can't touch the checkbook. The Tucson Tilt was ranked 2nd in the nation due to Jeremy Law not MacWilliams. It is a fact that 25 players from Tucson had no team because of MacWilliams. It is a fact that players were evicted from apartments because MacWilliams didn't pay rent that players had given him money for. Looks like Ft. Vancover didn't learn any lessons from last year and enjoy always having controversy. As for players and parents calling to play for Ft. Vancover, look long and hard at your decission, because you may not have a coach or team midway into the season. MacWilliams is not a coach, check out his credentials, players from last season say he's a joke. MacWilliams lied to the players and parents and felt no remorse.
MacWilliams if you are reading this blog......don't get to comfy, you may have fooled the Ft. Vancover staff for now, but justice will be served.
Stars' Head Coach Johnson Resigns
May 30, 2007
The Lincoln Stars announced today that Head Coach Steve Johnson has resigned his position with the team. Johnson has elected to pursue a business opportunity in his hometown of Grand Forks, North Dakota. With his departure, the Stars will begin a search for their second head coach in the team's 11-year history.
Johnson, an All-American player for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, will continue with the Stars through June 30th, allowing him to participate in the Stars' evaluation camp June 7th - 10th. Johnson will leave as the USHL's fourth all-time coaching leader in his 11 years with Lincoln and one year with Fargo-Moorhead, having led the Stars to three Anderson Cup and two Clark Cup championships. The 1996-97 Stars team was the first expansion team ever to win a Clark Cup championship. His overall regular season record with the Stars is 406-188-47, with a playoff record of 49-36.
"It's certainly hard to put into words the excitement and enjoyment that my family and I have had with the Stars organization and the Lincoln community," said Steve Johnson. "I'd especially like to thank the owners, staff, players, and fans for the unbelievable support that they've shown us over the past 11 years. This has been an incredible ride and an extremely difficult decision for us. However, I felt that the timing was right to accept an opportunity in our hometown that will allow me to spend more time with my family, and still stay involved in hockey to a lesser extent. My hope is that I can now become a frequent visitor to Lincoln and finally enjoy the great Ice Box atmosphere as a fan."
"Steve's impact on the Stars franchise is immeasurable," said Stars' President Jim Pflug. "He took a leap of faith by accepting a position with a start-up hockey team in 1996, and our early and continued success is a tribute to him. As an organization, we'll miss his professionalism, competitiveness, and ability to develop players. At the same time, it's difficult not to be happy for someone who's making a decision for himself and his family to return to their hometown to pursue another opportunity."
The Stars will immediately begin the process of selecting and interviewing potential candidates, and anticipate naming the next head coach within the next four to six weeks.
"We're committed to finding the best available coach to lead us into the next era. We believe that our amazing fan support and success on the ice will make this an attractive opportunity for many highly successful coaching candidates," said Pflug.
Yes yes, I know.... a little patience please? There is a USHL blog that has the story posted already, ya'know...
Curtale to Lincoln?????
Curtale is getting piped on Monday after Tornado camp ends...
I see Stars....
maybe there will be less goon hockey in Lincoln now
Has anyone every asked themselves why if Jon Macwilliams is so great he left the hockey Mecca of Toronto to go first to Tucson AZ then to Vancouver WA? It is not like has a real job. I think all the Fort Vancouver people are going to get what they have been asking for. If it really is Jon on here , then set everyone straight and tell them where all the cash went, Once you do that people will let it go. I bet you don't have the balls to tell everyone how you pissed away hard working peoples money and kids dreams.
You are a sad sad man.
Thanks for ruining my sons year
The saddest part of the whole Tucson thing is MacWilliams shows absolutly no remorse what so ever.
Yawwwwwwnnnnnn....Sighhhhhhh will this ever get old? Whocares anymore..honestly? Keep ruining the game! *&^%%$##@@
I agree ,hockey in the Northwest has been bad for the last 5-6 years what happened to all the really good players from that area
As one of many people who saw the bank records, it looks like the Tucson team funds were spent at bars and in Vegas mostly. A lot of personal use, including child support and lawyer fees...
Is anyone really surprised at the way the money was spent in Tucson? After all it is Jon Mac Williams!
why is MacWilliams not being held accountable? Isn't that embezzelment?
What are the rules for the WSHL .... are they allowed to pay their players allowences? or help out with university tuition? I am from NS, Canada and I am just curious how our junior B rules compare to the WSHL's rules?
If someone could reply I'd certainly appreciate it.
Thanks.
In the WSHL they are not allowed to pay "an allowance" and they are not allowed to pay a players college tuition either. Either one of those would be the same as paying a player to play. These are some of the problems facing Junior B hockey here in the States. Some of the teams go by the rules and then some don't.
Is the WHA not USAH sactioned? After speaking with Dave Tyler in CO. last week, he told me MacWilliams was life-time banned from USAH.
The WHA is a Canadian League. Last year they had one team from the US,the Bulls from Bellingham, Wa.
Two out of three ain't bad! Loftgren and MacWilliams / Lifetime bans and yet Ricky Smith still welcomes them with open arms. What a crock!!!!!!!!
How funny, McWilliams worked the on ice portion for the USAH Pacific District Regional Selection camp last month in Kent,WA. That sure doesn't sound like someone with a lifetime ban!!
a Canadian league, but the company (WHKA) is still incorporated in Florida.
So what compansations are players in the WSHL allowed to receieve, anything? or nothing at all? ... soemone told me that they have to pay to play? and what about apartment rent, etc? ... and thank you to the last person who replied to my earlier message, I appreciate it.
The players aren't allowed to get any money for playing hockey. Most of the teams have host families that live in that town and the kids are supposed to be staying with one of those host families during the season. The Parents are supposed to pay about $250.00 per month to offset the cost of the players staying there. Players do have to pay at the Junior B level. The problem is even though they should have paid to play some didn't and that is where we run into the Cheating thing. Some players were actually paid money and some tuition was paid which is illeagal as far as USAH is concerned.
Like this blowhard has said before. Until such time that McWilliams is indicted, charged or arrested for anything. Then he is not guilty of anything that peoples wishes, fantasies or wants. So continue to complain. Mr Loftgren and the board has made their choice for their coach for this season. You don't have to like it. You can voice your opinion just the same I will voice mine. Jon doesn't need to have your kid on the team if you so choose not to have your kid tryout. It's not Jon's job to cut the checks here it's just to put together ANOTHER good team to accomplish the best possible that can be had for the WHA. I still have my heart with the Pioneers. And I still will put my name to the posts. So anonymous continue to bash all you wish. The team will be succesful wheather they win the championship or only win one game. Again it's heart that they have and always will. I am interested in seeing what Jon can do. I am looking forward to see what the Pio's can do this year with this new challenge. I don't see to many other TEAMS stepping up to Jr A. I see it as a welcomed challenge. It will only make everyone better.
ok, let me get this straight...FVP is accused of paying players, at least two team officials are banned for life by USAH, and they hire a guy to coach the team who has also been banned by USAH, is accused of embezzlement of funds from his former team, that was funded by an on-line gambling operation.....? the "Board" that approved this must be a bunch of morons....guilty or not, there comes a time when perception becomes reality......
Junior A? The WHA is Midget house hockey, So good luck.Are you that gullable to believe that all these differnet people would make stuff up about Jon? And you say another good team, What other good team are you talking about? The tilt? They folded in two months and left 25 kids hanging with nowhere to go. Sounds pretty successfull to me.Not to mention if you ask any of the kids on the Tilt they will tell you Jon brought nothing but problems and empty promises to the table. So go get'em and who cares about the past.
Good Luck Blowhard your gonna need it.
P.S. Dont buy the B.S. it goes down smooth but it burns coming out
"All" of these anonymous peoples accusations seem amusing. Sounds like a couple of typically crazy hockey parents!!
But you don't even put your own name down ????
good for you jon!
good luck buddy
jon macwilliams is as good as they come both on and off the ice. people make mistakes and the mistakes of others have been placed upon jon time after time. jon never said that he was an outstanding business man. he is a hockey guy plain and simple. he is assuming zero control of the business side in ft. vancover. let him do what he has always done, COACH. jeremy is the coach that did this two seasons in a row. lets see if jon repeats the tucson season. my money is that he wont. lose your selfish bitterness, get over the tilt season. trash this man if he pulls the jermey law repeat. until then get on with you lives, if i was your kids i would be embarrased of my parents.
Elaine,
At least sign your post. It is such a cop out to blame Jeremy.
Did Jermey have a team debit card? Did Jeremy have any financial power? Did Jeremy get paid?
You are such a loser.
Even though you packed your bags your baggage will follow you forever.
You Effed up Tucson and effed alot of people along the way.
I cant believe you have the alls to say I'm bitter.Damn right I'm bitter.
Don't blame Law.
Ask the blogger himself he has insight into the matter.
Someone just needs to post a copy of the team bank records... That will set everyone straight!
Oh I have seen them and that would shut one side up big time.
Does anyone else notice the similarities in the earlier post to this post from Elaine MacWilliams in December?
This is my first experience reading “blogs.” I have heard about them--- people, anonymously in most cases, talking bad about other people--- and although it sounds like such a productive hobby to partake in, I think my conscience might inhibit me from getting as much out of it as Marc does. But then again, you own this slander sight…. (Does your mother know!?) By the way, my name is ELAINE MacWILLIAMS--- I believe…um… “NO NAME” wanted to know.
There is no way to describe the shock and sadness I feel over what was said about Jon. … Marc, you really like Jeremy. In fact, it seems the majority of the bloggers do. And frankly I do too. However I won’t join the consensus that Jeremy is a “victim.” My heart is broken over what has happened to the Tilt. I went to Chicago over the weekend for my aunt’s funeral, not my condo in Caribbean. Tuesday afternoon I was back in Tucson… (For my husband’s funeral, it sure feels like.) Jon was a hockey player, as was Jeremy; neither one skilled in accounting. I am extremely mad at both of them for allowing this to happen.
3:12 AM, December 06, 2006
Jon not only ruined a hockey season for 25 players, his actions affected the rink where the Tilt played and practiced, the apartment complex where the players lived, the furniture company who rented him the furniture he put in those apartments and the gym where the players worked out. Jon and Elaine go ahead and blame Jeremy if that makes you feel better about yourselves. There are many of us out here that know the truth
I saw the bank records too... I feel extremely bad for the parents that gave their hard working money to Jon. Sad, Sad, Sad
iam not elain, there is other people that support jon. you couldnt pay me enough to sleep with jon.
Sure Elaine I am sure you were real upset ringing up $300 dollar bar tabs at Thunder Canyon Brewery with your hubby. Yeah I guess you could attribute that to "not being good at accounting"
Lets just remind everyone here there was only 1 person authorized on the Tilts account. Only one persons name was on the card. Take a guess at who that was shouldnt be too hard.
Is it true Jon snuck into the us from Mexico?
Why did he not just cross from Canada?
I understand Jon was denied entrance back into the states this past weekend after the Pioneers trip to Canada. Anyone know what that's about? Nothing in the local press yet. Who will run the team this coming weekend. (home opener)