UPDATE: Windsor Spitfires facing less sanctions from OHL
The Ontario Hockey League has announced that they have lessened the sanctions on the Windsor Spitfires due to their recruiting violations uncovered by the league.
An official press release from the league said that the Spitfires have admitted to breaking OHL rules, and in doing so, commissioner David Branch has lessened the punishment for the club down to a $250,000 fine, plus a loss of two first round picks and two second picks spread out through 2017.
From the press release:
During the meeting with the Commissioner the Windsor 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 $250,000.00 and will lose a first round draft pick in 2013, a second round draft pick in 2015 a first round draft pick in 2016 and a second round draft pick in 2017.
From our original article on Aug. 10, written by MiHockey’s Stefan Kubus:
As the recruiting battle between college and junior teams continues, the Ontario Hockey League has stepped in and sanctioned one of their own teams – one just minutes away from Detroit.
The Windsor Spitfires – one of the OHL’s top franchises – were just dealt a massive blow today by the OHL that will affect the club both immediately and in the near future.
The OHL slapped Windsor with fines totaling $400,000 and has taken away three first-round draft selections and two second-round draft choices, all for violating league recruitment rules.
UPDATE at 1:50 p.m. – Yahoo is reporting that the Spitfires will appeal the sanctions. Read more about that right here.
“In 2009 the Board of Governors of the Ontario Hockey League developed the OHL Enforcement Program, which is designed to address and attempt to eliminate violations of the rules and impose appropriate penalties if violations occur,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch in a press release. “The enforcement process 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.”
Branch added that the league investigations simply brought forward too many reasons not to punish the former back-to-back Memorial Cup winners.
“The league conducted two separate investigations led by our Director of Security and Enforcement, and in considering all the facts, I was persuaded that the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club violated the league’s Player Benefit and Recruitment Rules and 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.”
On top of the hefty fines, Windsor will be forced to stock up talent for the future without potentially pivotal draft picks in the first round in 2013, 2014, and 2016. The second-round choices are forfeited for the 2015 and 2017 OHL Priority Selection drafts.
The Spitfires are one of four OHL franchises facing off at Comerica Park in Detroit at the end of the year as part of the Ontario Hockey League’s participation in the 2012 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival. Windsor is set to take on Michigan’s own Saginaw Spirit on Dec. 29.
The OHL’s official release on sanctions:
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League, (OHL), has levied fines totaling $400,000.00 against the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club and taken away three 1st round draft selections and two 2nd round draft selections from the Spitfires.
“In 2009 the Board of Governors of the Ontario Hockey League developed the OHL ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM which is designed to address and attempt to eliminate violations of the RULES and impose appropriate penalties if violations occur. The enforcement process 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”, stated OHL Commissioner David Branch.
“The League conducted two separate investigations led by our Director of Security and Enforcement, and in considering all the facts, I was persuaded that the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club violated the League’s Player Benefit and Recruitment Rules and 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”, concluded Branch.
In addition to the fine, the Windsor Spitfires shall forfeit 1st round selections in the annual OHL Priority Selection in the years 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2nd round selections in the OHL Priority Selection Process for the years 2015 and 2017.