Section_Z
01-21-2007, 04:04 PM
From Kamloops This Week...
Man this guy slays me...$100,000 "transfer fee"....
By RICK WILE
Jan 14 2007
The old saying that “fame is fleeting” is magnified this week as I think about the plight of, and catch up with, Dustin Slade, the 20-year-old former Kamloops Blazer who left the Vancouver Giants in November to help even the playing field in the Western Hockey League’s B.C. Division.
A year ago, he was in the middle of the Giants’ run to the Memorial Cup party, registering 17 shutouts in the WHL regular season and playoffs.
Today. he is a jack-of-all-trades for his father, Dennis Slade, who is laid up with a torn Achilles tendon and has his son doing odd jobs at the residential properties he manages.
The younger Slade would much rather be stopping pucks and forging a pro career, but the hockey side of life hasn’t been good for the theatrically gifted but effective goaltender since he made a career decision to leave the Giants following his last start against Seattle on Nov. 15 to pursue opportunities in professional hockey.
There have been between 15 and 20 calls, according to father and son, after leaving player agent Gerry Johanson and handing things over to a family friend familiar with the hockey world.
There seemingly have been as many roadblocks, which they hope will soon be removed to allow the 20-year-old goaltender to get on with his life.
When he left the Giants, he was placed on the suspension list indefinitely, which freed up a roster spot for the team.
That’s where he has been ever since, and he claims his status has prevented him from moving on.
Slade claims he has been shut out from playing pro hockey in North America because of a $100,00 transfer fee, and in Europe because of a $200,000 fee.
When he thought about returning to junior hockey, Slade was denied the chance to join the Royal Bank Cup host, the junior A Prince George Spruce Kings, because of a Dec. 1 deadline for teams to acquire WHL players, a new rule instituted by B.C. Hockey League president John Grisdale.
There are claims that teams in the Alberta Junior Hockey League were told to stay away from Slade because he is a suspended player.
He apparently found that out after enrolling in college in Grand Prairie with an eye toward playing for the AJHL’s Storm.
Rick Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president of hockey, went on the record, saying there are no transfer fees and that Hockey Canada views Slade as being free to play professionally anywhere internationally.
Doerksen added that if Slade’s pro prospects evaporate, he could play junior A with any team that has an open Hockey Canada card until the signing deadline of Feb. 10.
As for the WHL, Doerksen said he is “in the process” of taking care of Slade’s “situation” with the family representative.
Slade’s days of playing in the WHL appear to be over, witnessed by the fact the Giants now have three 20-year-olds and, the fact no teams traded for him at this past week’s deadline.
However, what if he’s signed as a free agent and Vancouver gets nothing for him?
Makes you wonder if the league suspension is a safety net for the team, player be damned, and serves to make an example of a player who, in the league’s eyes, broke his contract.
The point has been well made. Further retribution would be immature.
Slade has youth as an excuse for his immaturity, but it has cost him as he has gone from all to nothing in a year.
He doesn’t want any pity. He just wants to play.
Rick Wile is sports
director of Radio ’NL
Man this guy slays me...$100,000 "transfer fee"....
By RICK WILE
Jan 14 2007
The old saying that “fame is fleeting” is magnified this week as I think about the plight of, and catch up with, Dustin Slade, the 20-year-old former Kamloops Blazer who left the Vancouver Giants in November to help even the playing field in the Western Hockey League’s B.C. Division.
A year ago, he was in the middle of the Giants’ run to the Memorial Cup party, registering 17 shutouts in the WHL regular season and playoffs.
Today. he is a jack-of-all-trades for his father, Dennis Slade, who is laid up with a torn Achilles tendon and has his son doing odd jobs at the residential properties he manages.
The younger Slade would much rather be stopping pucks and forging a pro career, but the hockey side of life hasn’t been good for the theatrically gifted but effective goaltender since he made a career decision to leave the Giants following his last start against Seattle on Nov. 15 to pursue opportunities in professional hockey.
There have been between 15 and 20 calls, according to father and son, after leaving player agent Gerry Johanson and handing things over to a family friend familiar with the hockey world.
There seemingly have been as many roadblocks, which they hope will soon be removed to allow the 20-year-old goaltender to get on with his life.
When he left the Giants, he was placed on the suspension list indefinitely, which freed up a roster spot for the team.
That’s where he has been ever since, and he claims his status has prevented him from moving on.
Slade claims he has been shut out from playing pro hockey in North America because of a $100,00 transfer fee, and in Europe because of a $200,000 fee.
When he thought about returning to junior hockey, Slade was denied the chance to join the Royal Bank Cup host, the junior A Prince George Spruce Kings, because of a Dec. 1 deadline for teams to acquire WHL players, a new rule instituted by B.C. Hockey League president John Grisdale.
There are claims that teams in the Alberta Junior Hockey League were told to stay away from Slade because he is a suspended player.
He apparently found that out after enrolling in college in Grand Prairie with an eye toward playing for the AJHL’s Storm.
Rick Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president of hockey, went on the record, saying there are no transfer fees and that Hockey Canada views Slade as being free to play professionally anywhere internationally.
Doerksen added that if Slade’s pro prospects evaporate, he could play junior A with any team that has an open Hockey Canada card until the signing deadline of Feb. 10.
As for the WHL, Doerksen said he is “in the process” of taking care of Slade’s “situation” with the family representative.
Slade’s days of playing in the WHL appear to be over, witnessed by the fact the Giants now have three 20-year-olds and, the fact no teams traded for him at this past week’s deadline.
However, what if he’s signed as a free agent and Vancouver gets nothing for him?
Makes you wonder if the league suspension is a safety net for the team, player be damned, and serves to make an example of a player who, in the league’s eyes, broke his contract.
The point has been well made. Further retribution would be immature.
Slade has youth as an excuse for his immaturity, but it has cost him as he has gone from all to nothing in a year.
He doesn’t want any pity. He just wants to play.
Rick Wile is sports
director of Radio ’NL