Inside the Investigation
In light of recent allegations, rumours and questions by fans and other members of the Australian Ice Hockey (AIHL) community, the AIHL would like to set the record straight as it relates to the Sydney Ice Dogs and the incidences that occurred at the AIHL finals in Melbourne in September 2011.
In the week following the finals, the AIHL launched an investigation into the conduct of three members (including two management members) of the Sydney Ice Dogs relating to allegations of intoxication and disreputable conduct and, in the case of one member, assault.
These accusations were supported by CCTV footage, Ice House management reports, sworn statements from security guards, witnesses and AIHL Commissioners whom were present on the day.
In order for the AIHL to ensure a fair process for everyone involved, two independent reviews took place in relation to the incidences.
Firstly, the AIHL appointed an independent Conduct Tribunal to hear and determine the allegations against the three individual Ice Dogs participants.
Secondly, the AIHL itself considered what sanctions, if any, it would impose on the Sydney Ice Dogs organisation for failing to adhere to the AIHL Code of Conduct and prevent or control members of its team from acting in a professional manner.
Tribunal Results
After a lengthy hearing by the Tribunal, chaired by a Senior Counsel, found all three Sydney Ice Dogs to be guilty of failing to behave in public in a manner required by Clause 6.6 of the AIHL Code of Conduct (i.e. by bringing the sport into disrepute) and handed down the following sanctions:
- Participant 1 - 2 game suspension (In addition to the 2 games the Sydney Ice Dogs had suspended him for) and banned from being an official of an AIHL club (either as Captain or on the committee etc, or as coach) for 1 year.
- Participant 2 - 6 game ban from acting as a team official (In addition to the 4 games the Sydney Ice Dogs had suspended him for)
- Participant 3 - Banned for life from the AIHL and fined $2500. The severity of this penalty resulted from this Participant assaulting an Ice House security guard.
Due to the seriousness of the offences, and the involvement of management of the Ice Dogs, the AIHL Commission contemplated several different sanctions against the Ice Dogs including fining the Sydney Ice Dogs; imposing conditions on their participation in subsequent seasons; suspending the team for a season, or even terminating its licence.
The Commission determined to imposed a number of conditions on the Sydney Ice Dogs team for the 2012 season including adopting appropriate management policies and procedures to prevent and deter similar incidences occurring in the future as well as the Sydney Ice Dogs playing with three imports (rather than 4) for the 2012 season.
The decisions of the AIHL Commission as they refer to the above matters were well thought out and discussed with all stakeholders and team owners in the AIHL to ensure a fair and reasonable process that sent a message that behaviour like this is unacceptable in the AIHL.
Other lesser known facts that formed the decisions made by the AIHL Commission:
- The incident involved a physical assault on a security guard;
- The player who assaulted the security guard in question was accompanied, in the lead up to the assault, by two members of the Sydney Ice Dogs management who are responsible for the actions of their players;
- The incident could have, and but for the work of the AIHL Commission and other stakeholders, resulted in all AIHL being banned from the Ice House and significantly damaged the reputation of the AIHL;
- The incidents occurred in the Ice House, with a full arena and in the close vicinity of key AIHL partners including the Victorian Minister for Sport and other key influencers for this sport in Australia;
- Three commission members spent approximately 80 (volunteer) hours on this matter after the season including arranging the Tribunal, collating and gathering evidence; liaising with all parties involved including the police and the Ice House;
- The matter of the individual players was referred to an external tribunal. All parties involved said the tribunal was fair and reasonable.
The AIHL reiterates that each team is responsible and accountable for the actions of its players and officials and can and will be penalised accordingly if the Code of Conduct is breached.
This is especially so where the offending players or officials occupy senior leadership positions within the club, or where club officials failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that the offences did not occur.
Alternatively, in appropriate circumstances, the actions of team members will be held to be the actions of the club itself, acting through these individuals.
Finally, the AIHL wishes to send a message to all members of the Australian Ice Hockey community, that behaviour like those experienced during the 2011 finals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated if this league is to grow and prosper.
The AIHL is firm that this decision is in the best interests of the competition and stands for the standards which we expect all teams to maintain.
ICE DOGS
RHINOS
ADRENALINE
BEARS
THUNDER
ICE
BRAVE
LIGHTNING
NORTHSTARS
MUSTANGS
