(Reprinted by permission of the New York Times Newspapers)
By R. Inkrat, special to the New York Times
PORTLAND, MAINE, Sunday, July 10, 2011 – Morning Hockey Club GM Gerald P. “Gerry” Nadeau has announced a stunning realignment of the Gold and Blue MHC rosters, forced by a Gold violation of the league salary cap, which casts a long shadow over planned Richelieu Cup festivities later in the week.
High flying forward Thomas Golebiewski (pictured above, front, 2d from left) has been dealt to the Blue Dogs in order to bring the Gold Weasels into compliance with the league salary cap of $1.98 per team. It was discovered by league officials that when the salaries of the top three players were combined on the Weasel squad the team was not in compliance.
“The only difference really is the top 3 players are now split up,” GM Nadeau said. This leaves Matt Noone and Pete Eremita on the Weasel side that, with Golebiewski, had surprisingly swept the playoff series against the Blue canines to win the highly prized Richelieu Cup, which even now is en route from Paris, France, to this city for the trophy award ceremonies on Friday.
Does this scandal call into question the legitimacy of the Weasel win? Many are asking the question.
“I think it totally de-legitimizes it, yes,” said ESPN hockey savant Barry Melrose, in town for the awards fete. “How can a team loaded with talent bought in violation of a league rule be considered the winner of a tournament?” Melrose added.
Noone, who also serves as Weasel President, and who assembled the tournament roster for the wily Weasels before Cup play began, was unavailable for comment. With Golebiewski, Noone was a part of a scoring one-two punch that led Gold throughout the series. It remains to be seen where this controversy will go.
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