There had long been back-channel talk about contracts in the CHL and how certain players got to play for the Windsor Spitfires- which led to a certain amount of success on the ice for the franchise...
Apparently, the league brass has had enough of their deals- even if they won't tell us what they exactly did wrong... in two separate investigations...
The team has been fined $400,000 and is losing five draft picks as a result.
Ahem... from the league its own self...
"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 via press release.
"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.
The Spitfires will forfeit first-round picks in the OHL draft in 2013, 2014 and 2016 as well as second-round selections in 2015 and 2017.
Here's the last time the Spits won the Memorial Cup- 2010
((HT: OpenIceHockey))
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