Niagara IceDogs 2022-23 Off-Season Thread

[three dog night]

Unless there are rule changes made, only the first rounder can be traded this season. Can he be declared defective even after signing if he now refuses to report?nop

Nope

Though unlikely at this time, I would not be shocked if Ryan Roobroeck doesn't go to another league until he can be traded. I'm sure his agent will field some calls from the USHL

He can’t signed a contract

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

I don’t think he is eligible to be traded as a defected player in September since he has already signed with Niagara. I think he only can be traded as a 16 year in the January 1st window.

If I was RR’s agent I’d encourage to take the Leadership role to lead this team out of ashes! In tough times you don’t run, you lead

 

[SSMHoundsFan]

If I was RR’s agent I’d encourage to take the Leadership role to lead this team out of ashes! In tough times you don’t run, you lead

Hard to lead a sinking ship...

 

[davewheeler]

Definitely an embarrassment. But at 20 years old , don't you think either of them should have known better? For some reason, I don't think this is the end of the discussion - could there be criminal charges on the horizon?

My worry now is how the safety and well being of the players/people victimized in this incident are going to be made a priority. Who's going to make sure that they stay protected? I have two sons myself - an 18 year old (who just finished Army Basic Training ) and a 15 year old. I expect MUCH better than that level of conduct from them both. To my way of thinking, Rosenzweig and Cato shouldn't be the only players facing consequences - *anyone* who participated in it in any way, or had direct knowledge of what was going on - and yet chose not to do/say anything, should be facing sanctions as well. The pedestals that some of these players get put on need to be shortened, if not eliminated entirely. As fans, shouldn't we expect (and demand) better from those who have been chosen to represent our teams and cities?

what happened?

 

[Kingpin794]

Nope


He can’t signed a contract

Pretty sure he could just go play in the GOJHL or OJHL until January if he truly wanted out now. I don’t think that’s going to be the case though.

Honestly having DD’s hands off the GMing will ultimately help them down the road. They’ll have 2 years to let the 06’s and 07’s grow. Properly build up a team. Hopefully in that time they find some new ownership and a real GM.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Hard to lead a sinking ship...

You got rid of the GM, which everyone wanted. You got rid of a couple OA’s on a vet team, just means more opportunity for others. Yes, not a great situation and I feel terrible for players, families and fans but don’t let this mess define you! Be better, as I said, time for leaders to step up!

 

[Millpond]

Pretty sure he could just go play in the GOJHL or OJHL until January if he truly wanted out now. I don’t think that’s going to be the case though.

Honestly having DD’s hands off the GMing will ultimately help them down the road. They’ll have 2 years to let the 06’s and 07’s grow. Properly build up a team. Hopefully in that time they find some new ownership and a real GM.

The guy can't follow directions .

What's to stop him running the team from his cell phone ?

 

[ckg927]

The guy can't follow directions .

What's to stop him running the team from his cell phone ?

The OHL should have forced him to sell the team. I don't give a DAMN if it would be the second time this team's been sold inside of a year. This. Fanbase. Deserves. Better. That. THIS!

 

[MJ5]

Barclay Branch come on down.

 

[Purple Phart]

Opportunity knocks for an owner considering buying a OHL franchise, with a strong fan base, and an OHL quality arena to play out of. Any recently-retired NHL players with enough of their past earnings stashed away to make this happen ?

Make the investment, put a strong management/ coaching team in place, build a strong, competitive franchise, and there's your post NHL retirement plan. A competitive Major Jr. A franchise can be a bona-fide money maker for an owner with enough sense to hire quality people, let them do their jobs, without meddling.

Candidate suggestions welcomed. Can't really do much worse than the past 2 attempts.

 

[Drop the Puck]

Can the Hunter’s own to franchise's?
Oh, the irony.

 

[Petes1987]

The guy can't follow directions .

What's to stop him running the team from his cell phone ?

The league should take over running the team for two years like they did in Flint.

 

[bigsportsfan]

Nothing will change with the IceDogs as long as DeDobbelaer is the owner. There were rumours all year that he wasn't looking after the players as well as the other teams (meals, hotels, etc). The business office has seen massive turnover this season and game day operations definitely went downhill this season. The OHL really does need to step in and remove this owner. If he continues to own the team, the Icedogs will be near the bottom of the standings most years and attendance will decline.

 

[OHLFAN2001]

Hard to lead a sinking ship...

If I was RRs agent I would be asking for a trade starting tomorrow. I am sure the wheels are already starting to roll.

 

[OHLFAN2001]

Bet there's a few people handwringing tonight LOTS of damage control required .
Maybe Gretz invites them all to his place for the weekend

Wayne is getting a black eye over all of this, which he doesn't deserve. This is not good for the OHL who has worked really hard to try to retain local talent

Opportunity knocks for an owner considering buying a OHL franchise, with a strong fan base, and an OHL quality arena to play out of. Any recently-retired NHL players with enough of their past earnings stashed away to make this happen ?

Make the investment, put a strong management/ coaching team in place, build a strong, competitive franchise, and there's your post NHL retirement plan. A competitive Major Jr. A franchise can be a bona-fide money maker for an owner with enough sense to hire quality people, let them do their jobs, without meddling.

Candidate suggestions welcomed. Can't really do much worse than the past 2 attempts.

Who is this DD and why would anyone give him a team? I met him at a rink and he seemed like he was half way out to lunch. I am sure there are much better candidates

 

[BadgerBruce]

City of St. Catharines (where the team is based) issued a statement.

St. Catharines Mayor and CAO demand meeting with IceDogs ownership

Here’s part of it:

“For more than 15 years our community has shown unprecedented support for our hometown hockey team. We have celebrated their victories and stood by them through their struggles.

The results of the OHL investigation show that the leadership of the organization and certain players have violated the trust of our community, and immediate action must be taken.

We have reached out to the Commissioner of the OHL asking for information and a meeting with OHL leadership, to understand the League’s position and the results of the investigation.

We are also demanding a meeting with the ownership group of the team immediately to discuss this situation and to determine a path forward that will restore the trust of the community.

This is an unacceptable situation that must be addressed swiftly and decisively.”

 

[BadgerBruce]

If I was RR’s agent I’d encourage to take the Leadership role to lead this team out of ashes! In tough times you don’t run, you lead

Asking a 16 year-old teenager in grade 10 to do this is, in my view, unreasonable in the extreme.

 

[mattommy98]

Can the Hunter’s own to franchise's?
Oh, the irony.

At least it would be run well I would love that

 

[bobber]

Ownership of the Ice Dogs has given the franchise and the league a massive black eye. Time for the league to take over the team and run it properly until they find a serious owner. One that isn't looking for a new toy. Team should be sold immediately. The league did what is right by banning the players for life yet let the owner basically off the hook. Sort of a gutless move on the leagues part. The owner had to know what the issues were ala the players. He has to be either blind and deaf or ignorant of the facts. Fans in the region deserve a well run organization. They are getting decent crowds. Branch has to be more than a person coming out on the ice getting his picture taken with players holding trophies. You would think he would right the ship and demand the sale. This time vet the owners. Hope he doesn't call Snoop Dog although the name seems to fit.

 

[Otto]

Opportunity knocks for an owner considering buying a OHL franchise, with a strong fan base, and an OHL quality arena to play out of. Any recently-retired NHL players with enough of their past earnings stashed away to make this happen ?

Make the investment, put a strong management/ coaching team in place, build a strong, competitive franchise, and there's your post NHL retirement plan. A competitive Major Jr. A franchise can be a bona-fide money maker for an owner with enough sense to hire quality people, let them do their jobs, without meddling.

Candidate suggestions welcomed. Can't really do much worse than the past 2 attempts.

Corey Perry

 

[Otto]

I smell court challenges.

This is ridiculous and a lot of this does fall on Branch. What's the sense of forcing a sale like he did last year, not thoroughly investigating and vetting the new owner and coming up with a clown like this. I honestly feel sorry for the players and the fans. Frankly a $100,000 fine isn't enough. It's the equivalent of one sold out gate.

Honest question because I know nothing about the current owner. But what does everyone here know about his past that didn't come out in the vetting process?

 

[Dog Fan]

Can the Hunter’s own to franchise's?
Oh, the irony.

The irony would be the Hunters getting caught cheating with the IceDog franchise while operating it exactly as they operate the knight's franchise.

Corey Perry

Bruce Boudreau

 

[TF1970]

was there not supposedly a group of NHLers (Stamkos, Hamilton and a couple others IIRC) kicking around buying the team last year?

 

[Kingpin794]

Honest question because I know nothing about the current owner. But what does everyone here know about his past that didn't come out in the vetting process?

It was likely the case the the league wanted to move on from the Burke’s fast. OHL franchises are exactly money printing ventures so I wouldn’t be surprised if DD was just about the only one to put in a serious bid early on. The league took him at his word that he could run the organization without looking deeper because there isn’t a long line of folks out there that want to own an OHL franchise. It’s kinda like invading a country to rid it of some bad group. Great in theory but if you rush it, filling the power vacuum too quickly can let in some undesired results.

 

[SSMHoundsFan]

City of St. Catharines (where the team is based) issued a statement.

St. Catharines Mayor and CAO demand meeting with IceDogs ownership

Here’s part of it:

“For more than 15 years our community has shown unprecedented support for our hometown hockey team. We have celebrated their victories and stood by them through their struggles.

The results of the OHL investigation show that the leadership of the organization and certain players have violated the trust of our community, and immediate action must be taken.

We have reached out to the Commissioner of the OHL asking for information and a meeting with OHL leadership, to understand the League’s position and the results of the investigation.

We are also demanding a meeting with the ownership group of the team immediately to discuss this situation and to determine a path forward that will restore the trust of the community.

This is an unacceptable situation that must be addressed swiftly and decisively.”

I hope that meeting is open to the public