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Friday, October 29, 1999
IceRays' foe may no-show
Equipment shortage leads to team walkout
By Mark Button
Caller-Times
As of Thursday night, it was uncertain whether tonight's WPHL game between the Central Texas Stampede and the Corpus Christi IceRays would take place as scheduled.
The Stampede players say they want to play the game, but only if they have the necessary equipment.
Team members maintain they have been lacking proper, safe equipment - including skates, helmets and sticks - since training camp.
Because of that, players skipped practice Wednesday. On Thursday, they faxed a letter to Western Professional Hockey League president Rick Kozuback stating they would not return to the ice until they are assured money for equipment.
Stampede player and assistant coach Jamie Hearn, who staged Wednesday's walkout, was hesitant to call the team's position an official strike.
"The best way to put it is that we don't have enough stuff for practice," Hearn said. "The best-case scenario is that something will be resolved and we'll get on the bus and come play.
"Playing is something we've never wanted to stop doing. Playing hockey is what we love to do."
The lack of equipment is the result of a slow sale of the Central Texas Stampede franchise. Hearn said the current majority owners - a group in Vancouver, British Columbia, that owns 71 percent of the team - refuses to fund the team while it works through the paperwork of selling the franchise to Belton businessman Bob Carlson.
Hearn said the players have been receiving paychecks, but there is no additional money for new skates, skate repairs or sticks.
"We have guys whose skates are falling apart," Hearn said. "It's becoming a question of safety. The game of hockey is high impact and things can happen in a hurry as far as injuries. When you're not out there properly equipped, that's when injuries occur."
The league has canceled three games in the past: One game in Waco was canceled due to an ice problem caused by a Zamboni malfunction; two others in Little Rock, Ark., were called off because of tornado damage to ice- making equipment.
WPHL director of scheduling and media services Steve Cherwonak said he anticipates that tonight's game will be played as scheduled.
"We are aware of player concerns, and are working to ensure that the situation is resolved to everyone's satisfaction in the very near future," Cherwonak said.
The front offices of both teams are going about business as usual, assuming the game will be played. In the event that it is canceled, IceRays management said fans will receive refunds on their tickets.
"I'm not sure of the logistics of it," Corpus Christi general manager Bill Davidson said. "It's never happened before, but we'd certainly be obligated to return people the price of the tickets they bought."
IceCubes
FANS EJECTED: Four fans were ejected from Wednesday's game late in the third period. The reason they were forced to leave depends on who is asked.
The fans say they were tossed for taunting Fort Worth goalie Steve Plouffe by chanting his name and yelling, "You suck."
IceRays general manager Bill Davidson said the fans were ejected not for the chant but for "being drunk and belligerent. They actually threatened my staff and they were warned. . . . Once the warning is given and you come back at staff, the police or security, then you're ejected from the game."
Davidson said he received complaints from families with children about the fans taunting Plouffe.
"We want the fans to get into the game," Davidson said. "We just want them to respect the fans and families with children around them, too."
Season-ticket holder Jeff Regmund was one of the fans ejected. Regmund said neither he nor the other ejected season-ticket holders were warned.
"One of the managers of the IceRays came up and talked to a couple people above us, but he never talked to us specifically," Regmund said. "The chant continued, and the next thing we realized was that he (the IceRays manager) was talking to the cops. After that, the cops came up and pointed at us and said, 'Come with me.' "
Regmund said the police officers told him IceRays management instructed the police to escort Regmund and the others out of the building.
"The police didn't even tell us why," said Regmund, who paid the IceRays $560 for his season tickets.
Scott Lesinski, another IceRays fan, said he called the IceRays' offices Thursday to inquire about the ejections. He said fans in sections 7-10 were taking part in the chant.
"I called down there and asked for (IceRays ticketing director) Robert Quintero because he was the one who had the guys ejected," Lesinski said. "Robert told me it was Bill Davidson's decision. He also said if fans chant (inappropriate language) at future games, they will be ejected, too."
Davidson refuted that claim as well, saying fans will not be ejected for merely chanting.
"This has nothing to do with chants," he said. "There was more involved than just the chant. I think there was some foul language involved. We want people to have fun, but we don't want people to be offended."
Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at buttonm@caller.com
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