OHL Insider has been quoted as saying:
Gruden
and Asst. Coach Dave Karpa were fired as a result of owner Rolf
Nilsen’s son Hakon, not receiving enough ice time in the eyes of
ownership. There was more than one occasion where GM and owner Rolf
Nilsen were coming down pleading with coaches to play him more. They
were even asking for PP/PK time.
Following
today’s post game skate, the coaches told the players of their news. It
is then that all players walked up stairs and handed in their jerseys
went to the equipment room and packed their bags.
Håkon Nilsen, the 17 yr son at the center of the controversy, was one of the players who also quit the team.
TSN is reporting Nilsen's interference with the coaching staff had been percolating under
the surface for weeks in Flint. According to multiple sources, Flint's
staff was repeatedly warned about potential repercussions if ice time
for Hakon did not increase.
They also reported the players left a message on a whiteboard in the team's dressing room, stating: "We'll come back when the coaches come back."
Commissioner David Branch called a meeting to resolve the issue. Since then, coaches John Gruden and Dave Karpa have been re-hired. Players left the meeting and are saying "no comment" which means they are still on the team you can assume (why else would 17 yr olds be silent?)
Rolf Nilsen offered an apology saying only "I'm
sorry for what I did," before leaving the dressing room so the players
could regroup with the coaching staff. Here's what OHL Insiders thought of that:
There are 5 NHL draft picks on the roster. Nilsen's selfish act will not sit well with NHL GMs and Owners. What professional team will want to do business with such a lose cannon?
Hey, Hakon! Remember that time your Daddy fired the coaches because he thought you should play more?
Hey, Hakon! Remember that time your Daddy fired the coaches because he thought you should play more?
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