NHLPA Ombudsman Defends Exec Board Decision To Fire Paul Kelly

Hargrove Says He Would Have Voted To Fire Kelly

NHLPA Ombudsman Buzz Hargrove yesterday said that "if he'd been a member of the executive board he would have voted to fire" former Exec Dir Paul Kelly, according to Allan Maki of the GLOBE & MAIL. Hargrove on Toronto's CFMJ-AM insisted that Kelly's "reading of a confidential transcript of a players-only meeting was a serious issue that justified" the decision to fire him on August 31. Hargrove: "He could have waited and asked permission to access those minutes. But he didn't do any of those things. When a staff member at the office tells you that this is wrong what you're doing here -- similar to the [former NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin] situation -- don't do this." Hargrove said that "it was 'utter nonsense' he was out to get Kelly fired and also defended [former Ontario Chief Justice] Roy McMurtry's legal opinion that Kelly deserved to be terminated with cause" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/7). In Toronto, Kevin McGran notes Hargrove "bristled at allegations he downloaded private e-mails in contravention of the union's constitution." Hargrove said that the "emails in question -- which were between Kelly and an NHLPA employee -- were simply given to him by a female employee who was worried Kelly was contravening the constitution by reading minutes of a meeting of the 30 team representatives." Hargrove said that "reading the emails given to him was part of his job as ombudsman" (TORONTO STAR, 10/7).

LINE CHANGE: In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont reported amid the "ongoing turmoil" at the NHLPA, Bruins D Andrew Ference "will be replaced" by Bruins D Mark Stuart as the team's player rep. Stuart also will replace Ference on the NHLPA Exec Board. A source said that Ference "withdrew his name for consideration to be re-elected to the position, making way for Stuart to assume it unopposed." Dupont noted Ference "irked a number of players in the Boston room ... in part because he was not forthcoming with information pertaining to Kelly's firing" (BOSTON.com, 10/6).