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Posted on 02/22/2005 11:16:08 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
NewsFlash Home | More Michigan News
Hockey coach suspended for offering bounty on rival player
2/22/2005, 10:17 a.m. ET
By DEE-ANN DURBIN
The Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Motor City Mechanics coach Steve Shannon has been suspended without pay for the rest of the season for offering his players a $200 bounty to take out Flint Generals forward Kevin Kerr on the ice, United Hockey League Commissioner Richard Brosal said Tuesday.
Brosal said Shannon never admitted to offering the money, but a UHL investigation found that he placed the bounty Feb. 2, when the Mechanics played the Generals in Flint.
A message was left Tuesday morning on Shannon's cell phone. Shannon lives in Sterling Heights.
Brosal said Shannon will miss 24 games. The Mechanics are 17-33-6 and are in last place in the league.
Mechanics President John Tull said Tuesday that former coach Garry Unger will reassume the head coaching job until further notice. Tull said he and the team's owners would meet Tuesday to discuss the situation.
"We regret that Steve's been suspended, but we back the league's decision," Tull said. "Neither the league nor the Mechanics would ever condone headhunting out on the ice."
Tull said Kerr was slightly injured in a clean check in the Feb. 2 game, but no one collected any money from Shannon.
"Nothing ended up happening. Most of the players realized that is not the way to conduct yourself as a professional," Tull said.
Brosal said Shannon won't be automatically reinstated for the 2005 season.
"I would review that again if it came up. We'll just have to wait and see," he said.
Before the game, Kerr criticized National Hockey League players who had joined UHL teams, saying they were taking time from minor league players. Detroit Red Wings Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher and Kris Draper joined the Mechanics on Feb. 1. More recently, Red Wing Jason Woolley joined the Generals.
Brosal confirmed that the bounty was $200, but said the amount wasn't important.
"I don't care if it was $5. You do not put a bounty on another player's head," Brosal said.
The Mechanics face Flint again in the Detroit suburb of Fraser this Friday.
"We're just trying to put a fire out and ... have a professional, clean hockey game this Friday night," Tull said.
Don't forget Tim "Doctor Hook" McCracken
Anyways, i guess Tonya Harding's bug came and bit this coach huh?
Ping
Old time hockey?
Eddie Shores?
Piss on Eddie Shores!
Put'n on the foil.
A real old school hockey player would have done it for free. Today's athletes are coddled way too much.
Trade me right F**kin now.
could be one of the greatest, most quotable movies of all time. Should be in everyone's DVD collection along with CadyShack and King Pin
"They called us names!"
Freep mail or ping me if you want on or off the Hockey Ping List.
Gotta love hockey!
Did he rent an ambulance?
In ice hockey they're a little friendlier about it, if you can't stop the puck stop the man.
Correct. Comments like Kerr's are best left to the players themselves to do the policing. The coach should have known enough to keep his trap shut. Now it is possible that what was said in the room didn't remain in the room, and that is never good.
If anything, he now has more time to play with the slot cars.
Hockey question: If you've got Gary Unger around, why would hire Steve Shannon?
Boy, could Unger skate.
It was real cool when Jimmy Hart & Andy Kaufman put the bounty on Jerry Lawler's head, and guys came in from other regions to collect.
Oldschool wrestling was so cool!
I could never figure out why the Polish Hammer was so devastating. Now the camel clutch...that was devastating.
Figure 4 leg lock was also a favorite.
Do you know if Jake the Snake is dead now? I knew he had a huge crack problem.
Yes those moves were awesome!
I think Jake is still among the living - rent the 'Beyond the Mat' DVD for some genuinely creepy insights into The Snake.
Yes those moves were awesome!
I think Jake is still among the living - rent the 'Beyond the Mat' DVD for some genuinely creepy insights into The Snake.
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