Well the WHA finally issued a release on their site:
FORT VANCOUVER PIONEERS SUSPENDED FROM WHA
OCT 29 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Ft. Vancouver Pioneers plans to wilfully not attend their League scheduled games in Lillooet B.C. this past weekend against the Whalers has resulted in their suspension from the WHA.
In week 2 the WHA was forced to alter & accommodate the Pioneers as they encountered transportation problems and did not show for their scheduled game in Squamish against the Cougars.
Once again it was the Whalers that were asked to substitute and play within a moments notice against the Cougars to ensure fans in Squamish saw their weekend game as promised.
This last show of defiance is not only treasonous but undeniably damaging to the WHA, fans in Lillooet B.C., the Whaler players and to their own Pioneer players.
Their actions defy all logic and comprehension and certainly is not fair to their own Pioneer players who they used as a pawn in this sophomoric stunt.
The WHA has not nor did not charge expansion fees nor monthly league fees to the Pioneers when they joined the WHA and we felt that this was more than fair & just compensation, enough to allow them to get prepared for the season ahead of them.
The League was advised as early as week 2 that the Pioneers were having difficulty in their transportation budget, but the WHA could not fathom why, as early as week 2, the Pioneer's had exhausted or were close to eclipsing their overall budget for the season.
Asking for help is one issue, but to slam the brakes on your own team, the players' parents & the WHA and all of its players & Coach's is unforgivable.
The Pioneers were fully aware of what they were intending to do, as on Thursday of last week they asked what hotels we had booked for them in Lillooet B.C. so their fan's could also book at the same hotel.
We have done this for the Pioneers since the start of the season and the WHA has paid for all of their hotels while they played in B.C.
Another concern we had is that it appears that the Pioneer's may not be insured.
The WHA has a $5,000,000 per team policy for its six teams [the Alberta Team has their own policy and this has been confirmed & documented] and to date we have not seen nor been copied on the Pioneer's actual policy.
This is something that is required to be provided prior to the start of the season & is to be supplied to all arena's that we play in.
The management & owners of the Pioneers are suspended and this is Irrevocable.
The players of the Pioneers are as always welcome to play in the WHA.
Robbie Ftorek replaces Peter Sidorkiewicz as head coach of the Erie Otters. I remember Ftorek giving new meaning to "bench minor" a few years back (see below)...
It's hard to know who to believe, both sides are just slimey..
Anonymous said ... (7:24 AM, October 30, 2007) :
Can you say lots of ice available at the home rink?
Anonymous said ... (7:40 AM, October 30, 2007) :
I agree with anon @7:22. I was reading that release thinking what an unprofessional way to handle things. Just glad I'm not personally affected, feel for the players who are.
-Fangers
Anonymous said ... (8:23 AM, October 30, 2007) :
When I was a kid, I went to the fair and paid $.25 to see a "real, live, 6 foot man-eating chicken."
When I got into the tent, I had to laugh as I saw a gentleman (around) 6 feet tall, woofing down a bucket of KFC.
I can understand paying for this one time, but do you think my friends went in after I told them.
All who played in Ft. Van knew what losers this organization was. They bought into the lies and will pay the price.
The kids will find good team and all will be well.
Good riddance.
Anonymous said ... (9:24 AM, October 30, 2007) :
I know what this club used to be in its glory days, and hope that the appropriate people will sell and step away (really far away) and allow someone else to bring it back to a club that is respected, and classy once again, don't know after the last year and 1/2 whether it could recover from the reputation it now has. There was a fan base there, and local people enjoyed the games. Whether hockey or any other business, so poorly run, so many bad decisions and not in the interest of anybody other than a few.
Anonymous said ... (10:24 AM, October 30, 2007) :
When McBride had it, the kids were treated equally and fairly. It has become a cesspool of lies, misleading information and corruption. Let that be a lesson to all associated with these people.
Thank God it happened early in the season so their players can hook up elsewhere.
I hope to read some more pro-Vancouver posts today. They make me laugh at how blind and stupid some people are. Too bad the players have to pay the price.
If it walks like a duck....
Anonymous said ... (10:28 AM, October 30, 2007) :
The WHA should probobly get a lawyer as this group has a knack for frivility.
Joe is broke, people finally figured out about Cheek's rel character and even the WHA has had enough. Despite this, there are still some who think their is a liner on this cloud. funny thing Fis, their was no cloud, just a bunch of smog.
At least they still have the reporter at the Columbian bamboozled. He will print whatever they tell him to.
Anonymous said ... (10:30 AM, October 30, 2007) :
these people should be ashamed.
Anonymous said ... (10:47 AM, October 30, 2007) :
This is a bad case of he said she said. But why is it that it always seems to be the same people involved in these issues. The Tucson Tilt Fiasco last year at this same time, involving MacWilliams. Then it was the Fort Vancouver Pioneers Ownership with the mess prior to Nationals where they all agreed to "Lifetime" Bans from USA Hockey. Then again this year the MacWilliams Border Crossing / US Customs situation and now the Fort Vancouver Ownership yet again in trouble with a different league. In each of these cases it always is someone elses fault! It always seems that the money is gone and the only real people that get hurt are the players and their parents! When will people get it that these folks are bad for Hockey!
Anonymous said ... (1:39 PM, October 30, 2007) :
There's nothing wrong with this team, the owners, the coach or these players!!! How dare anyone bring up anything personal about them!!! No one is cheating, no one is scamming, and no one is drinking! *hic* It's none of your business!!!
Anonymous said ... (2:05 PM, October 30, 2007) :
Here is a question that still has to be answered. When will the kids that have paid (non-sponsored) get their money back? There has been no talk about that with them. Also how about all of the fans that spent hundreds of dollars on season tickets for games that will no longer happen. There is a lot of money that was taken, and I find it hard to believe it is all gone. If you talk to the team they have plenty of money and this is not the issue. So if that is the case then why not refund players, parents and fans their money?
Also I noticed that on the Pioneers website that they have removed everything except for a letter from Cheeks blaming this on the WHA. They also thank everyone for their support over the last 3 years (term of the current management). This sounds more to me like a team and operations that have taken up tent and left town.
Anonymous said ... (2:17 PM, October 30, 2007) :
Email Joe or call if you bought season tickets. He refunded my money yesterday. I stayed out of the politics and rumors and focused of my love of the game, the sound of skates on the ice, great checks, and laughing at the refs when they fell for no reason. I will miss the fan family that I was used to during the winter weekends. I wish everyone the best.
Anonymous said ... (2:21 PM, October 30, 2007) :
So are the Pioneers as we know them done, or are Joe, Cheeks, etc going to try and bring a team back next year? I am not sure of their options but I sure will miss Hockey this time of year. I hope they can find a way to bring hockey back, or sale the team so someone else not suspended from the USA Hockey can bring a team back.
Anonymous said ... (2:55 PM, October 30, 2007) :
For those wishing to stay out of the rubbish and watch good hockey, you merely need to add 20-25 mins to your drive to watch the River City Jags play. They have a good brand of hockey and a good group of kids (players).
Anonymous said ... (4:31 PM, October 30, 2007) :
Finally JUSTICE!!! Suck that Joe and Brian... you all f'ing suck! I hope you are both done with hockey and never return. This should teach everyone not to trust Jon MacWilliams... he is a liar and theif and he should stay in Canada and never return to the US. "F" The Pioneers and everyone who believe them!
Anonymous said ... (6:16 PM, October 30, 2007) :
Yes! The Jags are definaetly worth checking out!!! Great group of kids with a management teams who is really working for the PLAYERS!! They are off this weekend but back in action at home on Saturday, November 3rd at 7:00pm and Sunday, November 4th at 4:00pm. These will be great games vs. Seattle Totems. River City is currently in second place just 2 points behind Seattle.. earlier in the season the two teams matched up in 3 games Seattle won 1st game in OT Jags took the second game by one goal and Seattle the third game by one goal... So leave the bad feelings on the north side of the river and head over to Valley Ice Arena in Beaverton for some great hockey!!!
Anonymous said ... (11:04 PM, October 30, 2007) :
Paying your players to dominate your league , 25,000 ? Paying bail for a future felon because he was caught stealing from fred meyer $200.00 ? Cheating on your wife with a skank then suing her , $ 4000.00 ?
New Boat , probably wrote off as a business expense $ 70,000 ? Getting banned from norpac, then suing them , $ 150,000 ? Hiring a loser coach who can't cross the border legally , then Going broke in the WHA and being booted for good ..... =
" PRICELESS "
Anonymous said ... (11:10 PM, October 30, 2007) :
I want to know who he is suing for $4000 the wife or the skank?
Anonymous said ... (4:35 AM, October 31, 2007) :
Joe is a man who think he can have his way around the rules. I can't believe that they could not last at least half the season. I mean seriously, I knew they would fold at some point, but not this soon!
As for Cheek not being guilty; he was the one who allowed this team to go WHA. Certainly, Joe and Jon helped matters, but Cheek allowed this to happen. He does not know HOCKEY, he survived off of Tim O'Neal.
O'Neal is the one who made this organization what it is (Whether he paid players or not). Joe couldn't see talent even if he was Scotty Bowman!
Joe should not be trusted by anyone. Somehow, I see Joe and his ego pushing his way back in somewhere because people are ignorant to his antics!
Good Riddence to the Pioneers and GO GENERALS GO!!!
Anonymous said ... (8:17 AM, October 31, 2007) :
Will any of the Pioneers players get their money back?
Anonymous said ... (4:52 PM, October 31, 2007) :
Joe Loftgren is a "Bully" who will run over most people in his path. In just a couple years he's ruined a good thing here in Vancouver that may never come back to this community.
In my opinion Brian Cheek made a bad decision to follow Loftgren as he's guilty by association if nothing else.
The team doesn't have any money as half the players never paid their dues. The young players were the only ones to pay and considering they got the least amount of playing time it doesn't make any sense.
So long Pioneers!
Anonymous said ... (6:59 PM, October 31, 2007) :
ok here's the real deal... in the 06-07 season every player on every norpac team was cheated out of a full year of there hockey life ! because of someones greed. and since you cant go back in time, there will always be unhappy people. players, parents, grand parents, fans etc... although its hard to move on.. its now time to move on. Its a leason for all, Life isnt fair ! and sometime a bad person actions change your path on life..
Anonymous said ... (11:41 AM, November 03, 2007) :
So tell me again, how every player was cheated out of a full year of hockey?
Anonymous said ... (1:09 PM, November 03, 2007) :
ASK YOUR FAVORIT NORPAC TEAM TO PUT A LINK TO THE BLOG. THERES SO MANY PEOPLE/FAN/PLAYERS WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS SITE. AND THEY DONT RELIZE ITS HERE. THIS IS GREAT JR INFO.
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Anonymous said ... (1:09 PM, November 03, 2007) :
post a commentFT Van with NO Insurance what were they thinking?
It's hard to know who to believe, both sides are just slimey..
Can you say lots of ice available at the home rink?
I agree with anon @7:22. I was reading that release thinking what an unprofessional way to handle things. Just glad I'm not personally affected, feel for the players who are.
-Fangers
When I was a kid, I went to the fair and paid $.25 to see a "real, live, 6 foot man-eating chicken."
When I got into the tent, I had to laugh as I saw a gentleman (around) 6 feet tall, woofing down a bucket of KFC.
I can understand paying for this one time, but do you think my friends went in after I told them.
All who played in Ft. Van knew what losers this organization was. They bought into the lies and will pay the price.
The kids will find good team and all will be well.
Good riddance.
I know what this club used to be in its glory days, and hope that the appropriate people will sell and step away (really far away) and allow someone else to bring it back to a club that is respected, and classy once again, don't know after the last year and 1/2 whether it could recover from the reputation it now has. There was a fan base there, and local people enjoyed the games. Whether hockey or any other business, so poorly run, so many bad decisions and not in the interest of anybody other than a few.
When McBride had it, the kids were treated equally and fairly. It has become a cesspool of lies, misleading information and corruption. Let that be a lesson to all associated with these people.
Thank God it happened early in the season so their players can hook up elsewhere.
I hope to read some more pro-Vancouver posts today. They make me laugh at how blind and stupid some people are. Too bad the players have to pay the price.
If it walks like a duck....
The WHA should probobly get a lawyer as this group has a knack for frivility.
Joe is broke, people finally figured out about Cheek's rel character and even the WHA has had enough. Despite this, there are still some who think their is a liner on this cloud. funny thing Fis, their was no cloud, just a bunch of smog.
At least they still have the reporter at the Columbian bamboozled. He will print whatever they tell him to.
these people should be ashamed.
This is a bad case of he said she said. But why is it that it always seems to be the same people involved in these issues. The Tucson Tilt Fiasco last year at this same time, involving MacWilliams. Then it was the Fort Vancouver Pioneers Ownership with the mess prior to Nationals where they all agreed to "Lifetime" Bans from USA Hockey. Then again this year the MacWilliams Border Crossing / US Customs situation and now the Fort Vancouver Ownership yet again in trouble with a different league. In each of these cases it always is someone elses fault! It always seems that the money is gone and the only real people that get hurt are the players and their parents! When will people get it that these folks are bad for Hockey!
There's nothing wrong with this team, the owners, the coach or these players!!! How dare anyone bring up anything personal about them!!! No one is cheating, no one is scamming, and no one is drinking! *hic* It's none of your business!!!
Here is a question that still has to be answered. When will the kids that have paid (non-sponsored) get their money back? There has been no talk about that with them. Also how about all of the fans that spent hundreds of dollars on season tickets for games that will no longer happen. There is a lot of money that was taken, and I find it hard to believe it is all gone. If you talk to the team they have plenty of money and this is not the issue. So if that is the case then why not refund players, parents and fans their money?
Also I noticed that on the Pioneers website that they have removed everything except for a letter from Cheeks blaming this on the WHA. They also thank everyone for their support over the last 3 years (term of the current management). This sounds more to me like a team and operations that have taken up tent and left town.
Email Joe or call if you bought season tickets. He refunded my money yesterday. I stayed out of the politics and rumors and focused of my love of the game, the sound of skates on the ice, great checks, and laughing at the refs when they fell for no reason. I will miss the fan family that I was used to during the winter weekends. I wish everyone the best.
So are the Pioneers as we know them done, or are Joe, Cheeks, etc going to try and bring a team back next year? I am not sure of their options but I sure will miss Hockey this time of year. I hope they can find a way to bring hockey back, or sale the team so someone else not suspended from the USA Hockey can bring a team back.
For those wishing to stay out of the rubbish and watch good hockey, you merely need to add 20-25 mins to your drive to watch the River City Jags play. They have a good brand of hockey and a good group of kids (players).
Finally JUSTICE!!! Suck that Joe and Brian... you all f'ing suck! I hope you are both done with hockey and never return.
This should teach everyone not to trust Jon MacWilliams... he is a liar and theif and he should stay in Canada and never return to the US. "F" The Pioneers and everyone who believe them!
Yes! The Jags are definaetly worth checking out!!! Great group of kids with a management teams who is really working for the PLAYERS!!
They are off this weekend but back in action at home on Saturday, November 3rd at 7:00pm and Sunday, November 4th at 4:00pm.
These will be great games vs. Seattle Totems. River City is currently in second place just 2 points behind Seattle.. earlier in the season the two teams matched up in 3 games Seattle won 1st game in OT Jags took the second game by one goal and Seattle the third game by one goal... So leave the bad feelings on the north side of the river and head over to Valley Ice Arena in Beaverton for some great hockey!!!
Paying your players to dominate your league , 25,000 ?
Paying bail for a future felon because he was caught stealing from fred meyer
$200.00 ?
Cheating on your wife with a skank then suing her , $ 4000.00 ?
New Boat , probably wrote off as a business expense
$ 70,000 ?
Getting banned from norpac,
then suing them , $ 150,000 ?
Hiring a loser coach who can't cross the border legally , then
Going broke in the WHA and being booted for good ..... =
" PRICELESS "
I want to know who he is suing for $4000 the wife or the skank?
Joe is a man who think he can have his way around the rules. I can't believe that they could not last at least half the season. I mean seriously, I knew they would fold at some point, but not this soon!
As for Cheek not being guilty; he was the one who allowed this team to go WHA. Certainly, Joe and Jon helped matters, but Cheek allowed this to happen. He does not know HOCKEY, he survived off of Tim O'Neal.
O'Neal is the one who made this organization what it is (Whether he paid players or not). Joe couldn't see talent even if he was Scotty Bowman!
Joe should not be trusted by anyone. Somehow, I see Joe and his ego pushing his way back in somewhere because people are ignorant to his antics!
Good Riddence to the Pioneers and GO GENERALS GO!!!
Will any of the Pioneers players get their money back?
Joe Loftgren is a "Bully" who will run over most people in his path. In just a couple years he's ruined a good thing here in Vancouver that may never come back to this community.
In my opinion Brian Cheek made a bad decision to follow Loftgren as he's guilty by association if nothing else.
The team doesn't have any money as half the players never paid their dues. The young players were the only ones to pay and considering they got the least amount of playing time it doesn't make any sense.
So long Pioneers!
ok here's the real deal... in the 06-07 season every player on every norpac team was cheated out of a full year of there hockey life ! because of someones greed. and since you cant go back in time, there will always be unhappy people. players, parents, grand parents, fans etc...
although its hard to move on.. its now time to move on.
Its a leason for all, Life isnt fair ! and sometime a bad person actions change your path on life..
So tell me again, how every player was cheated out of a full year of hockey?
ASK YOUR FAVORIT NORPAC TEAM TO PUT A LINK TO THE BLOG. THERES SO MANY PEOPLE/FAN/PLAYERS WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS SITE. AND THEY DONT RELIZE ITS HERE. THIS IS GREAT JR INFO.