yikes! John Vanbiesbrouck, former NY Ranger and Florida Panther star and USA Olympian, had a great reputation as a 'good guy'.
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Vanbiesbrouck resigns after incident
3/10/2003
(CP) - Defenceman Trevor Daley, ``hurt badly'' by a racial slur from the owner of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, plans to rejoin the Ontario Hockey League team.
But the man who prompted the Dallas Stars draft pick to leave has quit as head coach and general manager in the wake of the scandal.
John Vanbiesbrouck, a former star goaltender in the NHL, will retain his 25 per cent ownership stake in the Greyhounds, team spokesman Gino Cavallo said Monday.
Daley, a smooth-skating offensive defenceman and a second-round pick of the Stars, is planning to re-join the Greyhounds in time for their game in Windsor on Thursday, said his agent Bobby Orr.
``I think he's going to go back,'' Orr said Monday. ``He wants to play.
``He's been hurt badly, but he's a wonderful young man and he'll be fine.''
Daley, from Toronto, left the team Saturday after his teammates informed him that Vanbiesbrouck had referred to him as a ``******.''
Vanbiesbrouck confirmed the incident, telling the Sault Star ``I used the `N' word instead of calling him Trevor.''
The incident apparently occurred following the Greyhounds' 6-1 loss Friday to the Guelph Storm at the billet residence of forwards Mike Amodeo and Jeff Doyle.
Vanbiesbrouck acknowledged using the epithet ``more than once.''
Orr said Vanbiesbrouck's resignation was not a condition of Daley's return to the team.
``Obviously . . . he feels a lot better that he's not there,'' said Orr.
OHL commissioner David Branch spoke with both Daley and Vanbiesbrouck on Monday.
``It should be understood that it is most unfortunate that Trevor should have to be put in this position to begin with,'' said Branch.
``We have a young man who was deeply hurt, who did the right thing to seek advice and support from his family and his agent.
Vanbiesbrouck, 39, voluntarily resigned his positions with the club.
The league is investigating the matter and Branch would not speculate on the future of Vanbiesbrouck's ownership in the team.
``John Vanbiesbrouck to his credit did not in any way shape or form attempt to justify what was said,'' said Branch. ``He did not in any way shape or form attempt to indicate that what was said was in fact misunderstood or not even said.
``He openly acknowledged and was remorseful about what he did in fact say.''
Vanbiesbrouck, who played his junior hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, said his use of the slur may have come from his upbringing.
``I told Trev this is an old wound with me,'' the Detroit native told the Sault Star. ``I grew up with it. I'm as sorry as anybody that it's stuck with me. I don't think I've used the word or even thought about it . . .''
Associate coach Steve Harrison will take over as head coach of the Greyhounds who went 26-30-6-3 under Vanbiesbrouck and clinched a playoff berth on Sunday with a victory over Windsor.
Vanbiesbrouck is one of only four former Greyhounds who have had their sweaters retired by the club.
After an 18-year NHL career, during which Vanbiesbrouck won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender in 1986, he took over as coach and general manager for Craig Hartsburg.
Hartsburg, whose Greyhound sweater was also retired, left the Soo to join the Philadelphia Flyers' coaching staff.
Vanbiesbrouck purchased a 25 per cent minority ownership in the Greyhounds two years ago while still playing in the NHL.
He played his last NHL game on April 14, 2002, in a win for the New Jersey Devils.
************************************************
Vanbiesbrouck resigns after incident
3/10/2003
(CP) - Defenceman Trevor Daley, ``hurt badly'' by a racial slur from the owner of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, plans to rejoin the Ontario Hockey League team.
But the man who prompted the Dallas Stars draft pick to leave has quit as head coach and general manager in the wake of the scandal.
John Vanbiesbrouck, a former star goaltender in the NHL, will retain his 25 per cent ownership stake in the Greyhounds, team spokesman Gino Cavallo said Monday.
Daley, a smooth-skating offensive defenceman and a second-round pick of the Stars, is planning to re-join the Greyhounds in time for their game in Windsor on Thursday, said his agent Bobby Orr.
``I think he's going to go back,'' Orr said Monday. ``He wants to play.
``He's been hurt badly, but he's a wonderful young man and he'll be fine.''
Daley, from Toronto, left the team Saturday after his teammates informed him that Vanbiesbrouck had referred to him as a ``******.''
Vanbiesbrouck confirmed the incident, telling the Sault Star ``I used the `N' word instead of calling him Trevor.''
The incident apparently occurred following the Greyhounds' 6-1 loss Friday to the Guelph Storm at the billet residence of forwards Mike Amodeo and Jeff Doyle.
Vanbiesbrouck acknowledged using the epithet ``more than once.''
Orr said Vanbiesbrouck's resignation was not a condition of Daley's return to the team.
``Obviously . . . he feels a lot better that he's not there,'' said Orr.
OHL commissioner David Branch spoke with both Daley and Vanbiesbrouck on Monday.
``It should be understood that it is most unfortunate that Trevor should have to be put in this position to begin with,'' said Branch.
``We have a young man who was deeply hurt, who did the right thing to seek advice and support from his family and his agent.
Vanbiesbrouck, 39, voluntarily resigned his positions with the club.
The league is investigating the matter and Branch would not speculate on the future of Vanbiesbrouck's ownership in the team.
``John Vanbiesbrouck to his credit did not in any way shape or form attempt to justify what was said,'' said Branch. ``He did not in any way shape or form attempt to indicate that what was said was in fact misunderstood or not even said.
``He openly acknowledged and was remorseful about what he did in fact say.''
Vanbiesbrouck, who played his junior hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, said his use of the slur may have come from his upbringing.
``I told Trev this is an old wound with me,'' the Detroit native told the Sault Star. ``I grew up with it. I'm as sorry as anybody that it's stuck with me. I don't think I've used the word or even thought about it . . .''
Associate coach Steve Harrison will take over as head coach of the Greyhounds who went 26-30-6-3 under Vanbiesbrouck and clinched a playoff berth on Sunday with a victory over Windsor.
Vanbiesbrouck is one of only four former Greyhounds who have had their sweaters retired by the club.
After an 18-year NHL career, during which Vanbiesbrouck won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender in 1986, he took over as coach and general manager for Craig Hartsburg.
Hartsburg, whose Greyhound sweater was also retired, left the Soo to join the Philadelphia Flyers' coaching staff.
Vanbiesbrouck purchased a 25 per cent minority ownership in the Greyhounds two years ago while still playing in the NHL.
He played his last NHL game on April 14, 2002, in a win for the New Jersey Devils.