Spits hit with hefty fine, loss of picks

The Windsor Spitfires have been slapped with a fine and a loss of draft picks for allegedly violating the OHL’s player benefit and recruitment policy.

The Spitfires, through a team statement released Friday afternoon, denied the allegations they are being charged with by OHL commissioner David Branch.

“We are in receipt of the decision by the Ontario Hockey League regarding the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club and completely deny all accusations that have been put forward.

It is the team’s position that there is no evidence to support this decision, nor did the league follow due process or its own rules regarding procedural fairness in the making of this decision.

We will pursue all avenues of appeal regarding the decision made by the Commissioner, David Branch.
We are proud members of the Ontario Hockey League and will be vigorously defending the well-deserved and established reputation of our hockey club as an exemplary organization both on and off the ice, through the appropriate appeal process.

We will have no further comment until the appeal process is complete, in which we are confident will result in this decision being overturned.”

In a statement posted on the OHL’s website, Branch said the Spitfires were investigated on two charges, and he was convinced the Spitfires had violated league policies.

“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.

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”

The team has been fined $400,000 and will lose their first round pick in 2013, 2014 and 2016, as well as their second round pick in 2015 and 2017.

The Spitfires are attempting to build around a young core and have submitted a bid to host the 2014 Memorial Cup.

Since the new ownership group of Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner and Peter Dobrich took over in 2006, the team has had success in recruiting several high profile American players, including defencemen Los Angeles Kings draft pick Nick Ebert in 2010 and Calgary Flames draftee Pat Sieloff in 2012, as well as forwards such as Brady Vail and Ben Johnson.

Branch did not immediately return a phone call seeking further comment.