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Cowboys are up in armsCALGARY (CP) — Directors of Calgary Cowboys hockey club issued a statement Wednesday night saying they disagreed with the decision of World Hockey Association president Ben Hatskin to issue more drastic punishment against the Cowboys than against Quebec Nordiques as a result of last Sunday’s brawl.However, the directors said they would not “unilaterly threaten to withdraw from the series or otherwise act in some petulant manner.”Expressing support for Joe Crozier and the Cowboy players, the directors said they would continue to work to have the penalties made more equitable.Cowboys' trustee Bill Sleeman of Vancouver told a news conference that although he disagreed ‘‘totally and emphatically” with the position taken by Quebec officials, he believed they were sincere in their belief that Rick Jodzio should be suspended for life and that coach Crozier should be suspended.Quebec has also asked that Bud Poile, WHA vice-president in charge of hockey operations, be fired.Sleeman said the suspension of Crozier — certain to last to the end of the current Quebec-Calgary playoff series — will be reviewed by league trustees at a meeting soon.He said the Nordiques’ initial demand was for a three year suspension for Crozier.Jim Pattison, president of NeonexCorp., which controls the Cowboys, also said the directors emphatically support Crozier and the rest of the club, but he did not elaborate.Sleeman said the Cowboys made certain concessions so the series could continue.“At one point today, the Nordiqueswere going home, he said.At one point, officals of every WHA team said they had no basic support for Quebec’s unilateral position but later it was agreed to give Mr. Hatskin the latitude to make whatever decision he felt justified.Interviewed in the press box minutes before the game, Hatskin said he did not consider as evidence in his decison pictures showing Nordiques players withtaped hands or pictures of Nordique players kicking prostrate Calgaryplayers.He later said that kicking was mentioned in the referee’s report.The game started with a sustained booing of Quebec players and signs: “Frogs are back jumpers; World Hockey Association under new management — Quebec hockey club; Monty Gendron — let’s make a deal”; were brandished.Hatskin said in the press box between periods that he had been able to soften the Nordiques’ demands, “although it was like bargaining with a gun at your head.Joe Kryczka, a Cowboy director whoalso is a past president of the CanadianAmateur Hockeey Association and a lawyer, said he agreed with the ultimate decison not to pull out of the series andfurther discredit the league.Earlier, Kryczka said it was clear Hatskin’s decision was “based..onexpediency.“To reach the decision that was announced today, Mr. Hatskin and the others involved in this travesty had to disregard the report of Mr. Poile, who was there, and disregard the official game report of the referee.
Newspaper Details
Brandon Sun
Brandon, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Apr 15, 1976
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason P.
USA 27 Jul 2018
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