A heated dispute between a new World Hockey Association team and franchise owners has ended in one less league rival. The Fort Vancouver Pioneers are no longer playing in the WHA, but it's unclear whether the team quit due to a reneged transportation agreement, as team management contends, or was suspended due to management's "treasonous" and "sophomoric" behaviour, as the league contends.
On Saturday (Oct. 27), the Pioneers general manager Brian Cheek posted a statement on the team website explaining the situation. "The World Hockey Association (WHA) has failed to fulfill the agreed upon transportation agreement made when the Pioneers joined the league," said Cheek. "Confirmed correspondence to the Pioneers has failed to materialize and in the best interest of our players the management of the Pioneers had no choice but to end the season."
On Monday (Oct. 29) however, the WHA website carried a statement denying Cheek's claims.
"The Ft. Vancouver Pioneers plans to wilfully not attend their League scheduled games in Lillooet B.C. this past weekend against the Whalers has resulted in their suspension from the WHA," read the statement. "This last show of defiance is not only treasonous but undeniably damaging to the WHA, fans in Lillooet B.C., the Whaler players and to their own Pioneer players.
"Their actions defy all logic and comprehension and certainly is not fair to their own Pioneer players who they used as a pawn in this sophomoric stunt."
The Pioneers joined the WHA after cutting ties with the Northern Pacific Hockey League once they'd become champions of the controversy-filled 2006-07 season.They immediately faced a daunting travel schedule with their new franchise. From the hometown of Vancouver, Washington, the team would have to travel eight hours to play in Lillooet, and six hours to play in Squamish.
Within two weeks of playing in the WHA, the team had already encountered transportation issues. In week two of scheduled play, the Pioneers announced they could not get to 樱桃视频to play the Cougars. The New Westminster Whalers came instead, ensuring 樱桃视频fans got their money's worth.
"Over the next few days our focus is on placing our player's on various teams around the country and supporting them as much as we can," stated Cheek.
