Apparently the Fort Wayne River Rats were using several illegal players last night vs. the Cincinnati Cyclones 2 team. (#5 vs #12seed) Fort Wayne won 4-3. They had won ONLY one league game the entire season.

Cincinnati protested and the Buckeye League basically forced Fort Wayne to forfeit the game. Obviously there was only one decision the league could have made here. Hats off to the BTHL for taking a stand against cheaters.



[This message was edited by Silver_Surfer on February 28, 2004 at 08:58 AM.]

If you want to point things out make sure that we reveal all of the information.

Ft. Wayne notified the League and was cleared to play those players for the tournament. I have seen the e-mails. The Cincinnati coaches knew before the game of the situation and said that it was fine to play the game.

It was only after the fact, that the Cincinnati team LOST the game that they then protested. Perhaps both teams represent what is wrong with society today. If I cannot win fairly then I well push the rules until I get my way.
Further the league made a mockery of the tournament by allowing both Cincy and Ft. Wayne to continue to play in the tourney.

It appears that cheating and strecthing the rules does pay for both of these teams.

Litagation, Litagation, Litagation! Both teams have done no one proud! That is the FACTS!!!!

Bottom line: Fort Wayne added 'ringers' to their team on Thursday night, only one day before the tournament.

Cincinnati didn't even know they were playing these 'extra' players. A very observant baseball coach noticed that there were different players on Fort Waynes team compared to the beginning of the season. He then noticed that there were 16 players on the bench yet the sign in sheet only had 15 listed. So before anybody had even scored he notified the Cincinnati manager that something didn't seem right. The manager then checked the scoresheet as well as the sign in sheet to verify these differences. This was in the first 5 minutes of the game!

They did not wait until the end of the game to point out these issues. They were on the phone with the USA Hockey registrar and the BTHL president immediately.

Did you notice the refs over by the teams benches after the second period? They notified the referees at that time but of course that is not the referees responsibility. They told the coaches/managers that this needed to be taken to the tournament director and the BTHL. Guess what? They did and the BTHL agreed at 7:30am the next morning during a teleconference that these were illegal players. The BTHL declared that Fort Wayne should forfeit the game for using illegal players.

These are the facts. Stretching the rules? I think not! Cincinnati put together a team that has played together all year. Is it fair to allow a team to add 'ringers' to their team a day before the tournament starts? Of course not! Cheating? You got that right!

[This message was edited by Silver_Surfer on February 29, 2004 at 10:33 AM.]

Also they DID play a player the following game against Toledo that the BTHL said they couldnt play. He was a squirt. But it made us wonder who was actually under the jerseys of the others since they were told not to play him and still did. Not to mention the health of this player playing with 2nd year pee wees. What if he got hurt? Not a good choice of decisons on Fort Waynes part.
What about the AAA ringer on the Dayton Gems??? He was legal but a AAA player in the BTHL "A" divison??? Funny they made it to the Championship but it didnt get them the win.

[This message was edited by Y.H.F. Commissioner on February 29, 2004 at 08:33 PM.]

I do not know anything about this but what I read here. However, I do want to state some FACTS.

This is youth hockey not he NHL. You register a team at the begain of the year. You can make changes up until 12/31 of the current year. That is who you play with the rest of the year.
END of story

quote:

---

Originally posted by Y.H.F. Commissioner:
Also they DID play a player the following game against Toledo that the BTHL said they couldnt play. He was a squirt. But it made us wonder who was actually under the jerseys of the others since they were told not to play him and still did. Not to mention the health of this player playing with 2nd year pee wees. What if he got hurt? Not a good choice of decisons on Fort Waynes part.
What about the AAA ringer on the Dayton Gems??? He was legal but a AAA player in the BTHL "A" divison??? Funny they made it to the Championship but it didnt get them the win.

[This message was edited by Y.H.F. Commissioner on February 29, 2004 at 08:33 PM.]

---

I can't believe that Fort Wayne and Toledo went into OT in the consolation bracket! Are you sure that FW didn't use the 'extra' players? What about #34, the big boy with the orange CCM xray helmet? lol House team my butt!

As far as the Gems go, I know what you mean. #9 is technically a Peewee by age, but is double rostered on a AAA Bantam team. The Bombers played the Gems to a 2-2 tie just a week ago. #9 scored both of the Gems goals.
I don't know if I would call him a ringer because I think he was officially rostered. However, rumor has it that Cincy caught him playing earlier in the season and notified the BTHL. Anybody have additional info?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Silver_Surfer:

I can't believe that Fort Wayne and Toledo went into OT in the consolation bracket! Are you sure that FW didn't use the 'extra' players? What about #34, the big boy with the orange CCM xray helmet? lol House team my butt!

As far as the Gems go, I know what you mean. #9 is technically a Peewee by age, but is double rostered on a AAA Bantam team. The Bombers played the Gems to a 2-2 tie just a week ago. #9 scored both of the Gems goals.
I don't know if I would call him a ringer because I think he was officially rostered. However, rumor has it that Cincy caught him playing earlier in the season and notified the BTHL. Anybody have additional info?

---

Am I SURE? No. Did the REAL big kid play? No. I know they played the squirt that they were told not to. That is why I said if they played him DID they play any others? I dont know. Yep it was a long shootout. Had go at least 9-11 skaters on both sides. I didnt count.
I say ringer for the Gems not because I think that they "cheated" I heard that he was rostered. I say ringer because I dont think that most other teams would take a "AAA" player and play him in a "A" level. But maybe I am wrong.

I think any coach would take the best players they could get for there team. I know if we had a "AAA" player that wanted to pay to play on our team also and play in the games they coulds make I would say yes.

Now to me the point is they will pay to play.