Its the Motor City Mechanics in the news again. :roll: Its a real life version of Slapshot!!! Instead of adding the Hanson brothers, they add Avery, Hatcher, and Chelios. :P Now a personal bounty, what is next? Mooning the fans of Quad City? Having an ambulance circle the Mechanics arena? The possibilites are endless!
United Hockey League Coach Suspended for Offering Bounty
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 22, 2005
Filed at 6:55 p.m. ET
DETROIT (AP) -- Motor City Mechanics coach Steve Shannon understands the United Hockey League's decision to suspend him for the rest of the season even though he denies offering players a $200 bounty to take out a rival on the ice.
``It's unfortunate for me personally,'' Shannon said. ``The findings I don't agree with, but I understand how they came to their conclusion.''
UHL commissioner Richard Brosal said Tuesday that Shannon will be suspended without pay until the end of the season for offering players money to take Flint Generals forward Kevin Kerr out of the game. Shannon's suspension began Feb. 18 and he will miss 24 games. Mechanics assistant head coach John Blum also will be suspended for 10 games starting Wednesday.
Brosal confirmed that the alleged 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 Shannon offered the money on Feb. 2, when the Mechanics played the Generals in Flint. It was Shannon's first game with the Mechanics after he was named head coach the day before. Mechanics President John Tull said players confirmed that Shannon made the offer.
Shannon said Tuesday that he never offered the bounty, and that his players may have wanted to hurt Kerr because Kerr criticized NHL players who joined UHL teams. Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher and Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings signed with the Mechanics the day before the game in Flint.
Shannon also said some players were disgruntled because they were having to compete for ice time with NHL players.
``I don't think I had $200 in my pocket, to be honest with you,'' Shannon said.
Tull said Kerr was slightly injured by 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.
The Mechanics are 17-33-6 and are in last place in the league. Former coach Garry Unger will reassume the head coaching job until further notice, Tull said.
``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.''
The Mechanics face Flint again on Friday.
``We're just trying to put a fire out and ... have a professional, clean hockey game this Friday night,'' Tull said.
