ECACHL Administrative Blowup???

[bothman]

Originally Posted by theprofromdover

Hre's a copy of the resignation letter. I've deleted the contact information for privacy.

"Dear Colleagues,
We want to inform you that we will not be renewing our contracts with the
ECACHL as Supervisor of Officials and Director of Officiating Development.
It became apparent this past weekend that the environment of trust and
respect necessary to perform our jobs properly is not present in the league
office. In respect to the office of the commissioner our resignations will
be tendered at the expiration of our current contracts.

We have been most appreciative of the relationships we have developed with
many of you, and want to express our thanks to the officiating team we have
put in place and to the coaches who have been willing to engage us in
respectful debate and continuing constructive dialogue in order to achieve
the common goal of creating a premier college hockey league.

We wish you all the best of luck with your future endeavors and will forever
remain committed to the success of the league.



Best regards,

Butch Bellemore

Brewster Earle"

What's going on with the ECECHL?

Interesting. I wonder if this letter implies that Scafer crossed the line or that the commissioner refused to back "his" people and thus these two men could not move forward in their roles once that level of trust and integrity had been severed. It seems both perhaps.

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Originally Posted by Skate79

Absolutely, positively nailing it! He is a very funny guy as well as being genuine, focused and determined.

Earlier this season, a friend of mine sitting in front of me near the red line noticed that the players on the Harvard bench were smiling and generally enjoying themselves during the game. No doubt, Teddy has done a great job of instilling that sense of fun back into the game for these kids. They can handle the pressure and have bought into what he is teaching them. The program is on the right track.

As an RPI fan, I for one am hoping for a little (lotta) bit of that levity in our next coach...which has been missing I think. IMO, Harvard's players have fed off Donato's demeanor -- showing that they are relaxed -- a reflection of the their comfort with the game plan, systems, IMO. In short, they are a well-coached team. I'm looking forward to seeing them again at the Pepsi this w/e.

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Originally Posted by bothman

Interesting. I wonder if this letter implies that Scafer crossed the line or that the commissioner refused to back "his" people and thus these two men could not move forward in their roles once that level of trust and integrity had been severed. It seems both perhaps.

Was Have I been sleepwalking, or has USCHO and the college hockey reporters totally missed this story? I've seen nothing from either Ken Schott or Ed Weaver here in Albany.

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Originally Posted by Wicked Slappaahs

or has USCHO and the college hockey reporters totally missed this story?

USCHO has an article. Here's the link:

article

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.

USCHO has an article. Here's the link:

article

Thanks JJ For someone who I attribute as being tuned in to the league, Ken Schott (ECAC's most able reporter) missed the boat -- both on the incident during the tourney as well as the ensuing reignations.

[bothman]

Originally Posted by Wicked Slappaahs

Thanks JJ For someone who I attribute as being tuned in to the league, Ken Schott (ECAC's most able reporter) missed the boat -- both on the incident during the tourney as well as the ensuing reignations.

This is an episode that will come to light after the NCAAs. I can only speculate as to what will come out, but regardless, it probably will not reflect favorably on Schafer and the commisioner, so the ECAC office will not want this to be a distraction in the midst of NCAA play.....that is my guess at least as to why no one has picked up this story.

I think we will know a lot more in a few weeks....

[Got 6, Want More]

Originally Posted by Skate79

Wow, there's a good reason for not voting Teddy COTY. The Beanpot. Yup, the whole season should hinge on whether we win or lose that tournament.

Please, get real. The Beanpot has turned into the BU Invitational. Even BC knows that much. I could care less if we win or lose that tournament. Beating Cornell is more important.

That, and Harvard was lucky to finish fourth and finished about where they were picked. Quit your whining. Harvard split with North Dakota when half their team was in the WJC's and they were struggling as a team. Harvard didn't win the the Beanpot. Harvard should have finished 5th and would have if the idiot refs didn't miss an obvious icing call on 2/24 that allowed Harvard to tie the game against SLU.

Teddy has done a good job and is welcome after Mazzhole, but Marsh deserves it more than Teddy, and so does Gaudet and probably a few others.

As is seemingly more common, I like the Harvard coach a lot more than their whiny fans.

[Got 6, Want More]

Originally Posted by bothman

This is an episode that will come to light after the NCAAs. I can only speculate as to what will come out, but regardless, it probably will not reflect favorably on Schafer and the commisioner, so the ECAC office will not want this to be a distraction in the midst of NCAA play.....that is my guess at least as to why no one has picked up this story.

I think we will know a lot more in a few weeks....

It will make Schafer my hero. Bellemore is absolutely incompetent and the officials he has added to the league are horrible. Moving Murphy (John or Frank) up and Dell up, and Kotyra down? He should have been fired. I don't know any coaches that liked Bellemore or any that are thrilled with the direction of the officiating in the league.

From what I have heard Hagwell has taken a ton of abuse from coaches, AD's and SID's about the terrible officiating in the league....he shouldn't have to defend Bellemore. Bellemore made his bed, now he can lay in it. He has done an awful job and his resignation is good for the league. ANYONE can do a better job. Maybe we can get Dan Fridgen to take the job.

Schafer didn't have much to complain about after the first period against Harvard, but he did the rest of the game as did Teddy Donato. Every game is inconsistent from one period to the next. I bet ECACHL officials are directly responsible for SLU not getting an at-large bid. Alex Dell took a quality win against UNH from SLU's grasp. The missed and wrong calls against Cornell at SLU, Princeton at Princeton and Harvard at Harvard is enough right there to make the difference in our overall record for the bye and probably for an at-large. I did not see one game in the ECACHL officiated as well as most games are in the WCHA.

Bon Voyage Bellemore you load.

Thank you Mike Schafer....where can I send a donation to you?

[NTR]

Originally Posted by Got 6, Want More

That, and Harvard was lucky... half their team was in the WJCs and they were struggling... should have finished 5th... idiot refs... allowed Harvard to tie...
... I like the Harvard coach a lot more than their whiny fans.

The irony is breathtaking, coming from the single biggest whiner of any ECAC poster

Mike's donation, one supposes, should be sent to Dairy Queen

In happier news, Noah Welch makes his NHL debut tonight and gets an assist in a Pittsburgh win

Oh, and congrats to Holy Cross - glad we choose the Q... Go ECAC tomorrow!

[LGR03]

What? Wild internet speculation was wrong? Say it ain't so!

Contrary to Internet rumors, sources told CHN that Bellemore was not involved in a mid-game shouting incident with Cornell coach Mike Schafer during Saturday's ECAC final.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/new...24_shakeup.php

[WiltChamberlain]

Originally Posted by LGR03

What? Wild internet speculation was wrong? Say it ain't so!



http://www.collegehockeynews.com/new...24_shakeup.php

"Sources say".......What BS. And what self-respecting journalist would even acknowledge a message board?

The only site lamer is CSTV's sorry joke of a college hockey page. (Why USCHO has anything to do with them is beyond me. It's an embarassment to USCHO to be associated with them.) INCH is cool. USCHO rules. The others are teh suck.

[KeithK]

Originally Posted by Got 6, Want More

Thank you Mike Schafer....where can I send a donation to you?

http://www.lynahrink.com

[Got 6, Want More]

Originally Posted by NTR

The irony is breathtaking, coming from the single biggest whiner of any ECAC poster

Mike's donation, one supposes, should be sent to Dairy Queen

In happier news, Noah Welch makes his NHL debut tonight and gets an assist in a Pittsburgh win

Oh, and congrats to Holy Cross - glad we choose the Q... Go ECAC tomorrow!

Irony has nothing to do with disliking Harvard fans. Half of you were defending the single biggest piece of crap to coach in our league in the last five. Mark Mazzoleni was a turd. Then you go on to sing the praises, constantly of Noah Welch who was a player that was easy to hate because he was dirty. I personally don't have a problem with people talking about what a good guy and coach Teddy Donato is, because it is true, but those of you that continue to talk about Noah Welch, or Kevan Melrose are extremely tiresome. Half of you can't accept a positive statement on behalf of your coach, players or team unless we agree with you by taking it too far. Case in point, Donato did a good job this year and a great job down the stretch. He was not the COTY and with good reason. Deal with it.

By the way, when the facts are on someones side, I don't consider it whining. The facts are that Harvard's game tying goal against SLU was icing. Don't believe, watch the tape. What else do I whine about....officiating? Facts are that in the ECACHL it is awful. Apparently Hagwell agrees because he didn't seem to resist the resignations. The fry guy at the local Wendy's could do a better job than Bellemore. So, to recap, is it whining that I am calling Harvard fans Whiny? No, because the facts are on my side. Thank God there are only about four of you guys. One of the things that makes Donato likeable is he is not cocky. Aspire to that.

By the way, I thought the rumor was that Schafer went at it with Earle, not Brewster. If anything happened, Bellemore and Earle should have been no where near Schafer during the game. If they were, they were probably there being defensive (just as they are in their resignation letter). Those two probably thought they did a great job for the ECACHL and the fans were there to see them. Well, guess what Dumb and Dumber, most of the fans there and those of us who watched on TV were hoping for some fun college hockey and, at least, average officiating. We didn't get it. The officiating in the Championship game was uneven, inconsistent, and painful to watch.

My guess, Bellemore was mad because Schafer ate the last Donut.

If Bellemore and Earle thought Schafer whines too much (he actually does), they have no one to blame but themselves. They could have told their refs to hand out bench minors, and eventually Mike would have received a message, or another suspension. They created the monster by letting him do it. Now, if it was Schafer getting wound up and having a confrontation with Earle and Bellemore, then THAT would be irony NTR.

Now, Hagwell, please, hire someone that can actually do the job and improve the officiating in the league. A good start, send Alex Dell, John Murphy, Frank Murphy, and Chip MacDonald back to officiating high school games!

[vcanuck24]

Three supervisors in 6 years. Common denominator = Hagwell.

[Got 6, Want More]

Originally Posted by vcanuck24

Three supervisors in 6 years. Common denominator = Hagwell.

That isn't really fair considering the ECACHL just broke off from the ECAC when it was under Buttafuoco. Hagwell I am sure is willing to admit it was a mistake to hire Bellemore but that is truly the only one that is completely 'on' him.

I do think Hagwell deserves a lot of blame though. This is not a problem that has developed overnight. It should have been addressed a long time ago.

[Kepler]

Originally Posted by Got 6, Want More

That isn't really fair considering the ECACHL just broke off from the ECAC when it was under Buttafuoco. Hagwell I am sure is willing to admit it was a mistake to hire Bellemore but that is truly the only one that is completely 'on' him.

I do think Hagwell deserves a lot of blame though. This is not a problem that has developed overnight. It should have been addressed a long time ago.

I'm tempted to defend Hagwell also, in that he's always come across as on the level and with good intentions. But, then, where does the responsibility lie? The only other thing I can think of is that Bellemore was an able supervisor and there are systemic barriers to the ECAC hiring and retaining competent on-ice officials. That hardly seems likely.

[vcanuck24]

I know for a fact that John Gallagher left because of his arrogance and management approach. He did not like Paul Duffy and that was mainly because Phil Buttafucco selected him but he didn't give him a chance. He selected Butch Bellemore and failed again.

Phil Buttafucco is an awesome man and was the commisioner but don't be fooled, Steve Hagwell was running the hockey portion at all times.

He'll be having money troubles in the league soon.

[theprofromdover]

Originally Posted by Kepler

I'm tempted to defend Hagwell also, in that he's always come across as on the level and with good intentions.

Hagwell brought Bellmore in to fire a bunch of officials. That got done so his usefulness is over. No loyalty from the top.

[thehockeyinsider]

I had heard that Bellemore canned a lot of older ECACHL officials. I wonder if that will change under a new administration?

On a side note, just read that Hockey East needs a new supervisor of officials: http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/03312006,3.htm

[theprofromdover]

Originally Posted by thehockeyinsider

I had heard that Bellemore canned a lot of older ECACHL officials. I wonder if that will change under a new administration?

On a side note, just read that Hockey East needs a new supervisor of officials: http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/03312006,3.htm

Nope. That's what he was brought in to do. Once he did the deed he became expendable.