NWHL COO and Connecticut Whale GM George Speirs "is no longer with the league," according to sources cited by Kaitlin Cimini of TODAY'S SLAPSHOT. He officially joined the NWHL in August when he was hired as Dir of Operations. He previously had "volunteered his time as league photographer and had donated some of his own money to the league." Speirs was "promoted to COO in the fall," and "took on the role" of Whale GM in December when Harry Rosenholtz "resigned the position." Speirs’ exit means the Whale "will be on its fourth GM this season" (TODAYSSLAPSHOT.com, 2/10). YAHOO SPORTS' Jen Neale cited a source as saying that the move to cut ties with Speirs became clear "after Speirs took over" as Whale GM. The source said Speirs was "spreading internal and external rumors in an attempt to discredit his bosses and establish himself" as next NWHL Commissioner. Neale noted it is not known if Speirs was "asked to resign or if he was outright fired." The status of the money Speirs has given to the NWHL is also not known, and "whether or not it was given back as part of the separation" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/10).
CLOSE TO THE VEST: ESPNW's Pat Borzi noted the NWHL's financing structure "has largely been a mystery," as league Commissioner Dani Rylan "has never identified her investors, and she speaks about league finances only in general terms." But online payment company Paysafe Group President & CEO Joel Leonoff has identified himself as one of the initial investors. Leonoff declined to reveal the size of his investment and said that he "doesn't know who else is involved in the funding." He said he is supporting his daughter, Whale G Jaimie Leonoff, "more than anything." Joel Leonoff: "This is a cause that's important to my daughter, and as a result it's important to me and my family. So we're happy to try to help in whatever way we can." Borzi noted Rylan during the NWHL's All-Star Weekend in Buffalo last month "laid out an encouraging financial picture for the league." She said that attendance and expenditures "met preseason expectations, while merchandising exceeded them." Rylan said that "attracting more corporate sponsors will be a focus of hers in the future" (ESPNW.com, 2/9).
