Monday News

This weekend I've been faced with a delicate situation. A year ago I probably would have put everything on the table and gone for the jugular. However, while I'm not sure that it's necessary this time, I'm sure some people are still going to find themselves in a very uncomfortable position. I apologize in advance for not providing all the details, but I think there first exists some opportunity to correct the situation, hence the way I have written the following... In the past week or two the Junior Council has reinstated a person whose suspension had been reaffirmed as recently as the summer meetings in June. The reinstatement followed an appeal via a conference call (all persons under suspension should be so fortunate). Unfortunately, much like a parole hearing where the victim's families are not allowed to discuss the damage done to them by the felon, before the USA Hockey appeal none of the injured parties were notified and allowed to once again present their case. I use the analogy intentionally because in the case of the person in question indeed has a criminal record in the state of Minnesota. Here is the person's criminal rap sheet. I have verified this information using the Minnesota Criminal History Offender Search. Kidnapping - Felony Assault-5th Deg-Inflict or Attempt Bodily Harm - Gross Misdemeanor Assault-5th Degree - Gross Misdemeanor Carry Weapons Without Permit - Gross Misdemeanor Liquor-Purchase/Sell/Barter/Furnish/Give to u/21yr - Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct - Misdemeanor The felony kidnapping conviction is enough for disqualification under USA Hockey's screening policy: D. SCREENING It is the policy of USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine that it will not authorize or sanction in its programs that it directly controls any volunteer or employee who has routine access to children (anyone under the age of majority) who refuses to consent to be screened by USA Hockey or USA Hockey InLine before he/she is allowed to have routine access to children in USA Hockey’s and USA Hockey InLine’s programs. Further, it is the policy of USA Hockey that it will require its affiliates to adopt this policy as a condition of its affiliation with USA Hockey, and it is a policy of USA Hockey InLine that it will require its sanctioned leagues to adopt this policy as a condition of its sanctioning by USA Hockey InLine. A person may be disqualified and prohibited from serving as an employee or volunteer of USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine if the person has: 1. Been convicted (including crimes the record of which has been expunged and pleas of "no contest") of a crime of child abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, physical abuse, causing a child’s death, neglect of a child, murder, manslaughter, felony assault, any assault against a minor, kidnapping, arson, criminal sexual conduct, prostitution related crimes or controlled substance crimes. There are, however, other incidents that are not reflected in the above record of which the council should be either informed or reminded. These incidents occurred within the province of junior hockey and involved junior hockey personnel (among others). I am not the proper person to do so, as it should be left to people involved (whom I believe are more than willing to testify). I wholeheartedly believe the person in question has no business being involved in hockey... in any capacity. Again, I apologize for not providing all the details. However, I believe the situation is not without the potential for redemption, and am thus retaining the details in hopes the proper corrective action takes place. Of course, bad behavior is not restricted to juniors... There are two lessons to be learned from this story: 1) behave yourselves, and 2) don't talk to the media and give them the idea this happens all the time. By the way... I could be wrong, but isn't being an official student organization a requirement by the ACHA under Article II, Section 1: The purpose of the Association is to be an organization of collegiate affiliated programs, which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes quality in collegiate ice hockey. That's some pretty serious disassociation by the university representative. In other news... Veteran Sudbury Wolves defenceman Zach McCullough wants to show the way... Texas Tornado Lyon Messier gunning for a spot on Edmonton Oil Kings... Meanwhile another NHL son, Ben Otto, is gunning for a spot with the Vancouver Giants... Alpena IceDigger defensemen Ben Kitzmiller has been offered a athletic scholarship Lake Superior State University for the upcoming season. I'd post a link, but I try not to use oursportscentral.com as a direct source, and the article on Alpena's website is not on a discrete webpage. Pat Connolly: Herd hype in Halifax not without merit... More Oil Kings: Pysyk the top choice, but undrafted Edmontonian Rhett Rachinski makes an impression... Nick Patterson debunks the bantam draft in Everett... Curse of the puck bunnies - Vancouver Giants forward Evander Kane is expected to miss at least the first week of training camp with mononucleosis...