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03-02-2006, 07:41 PM
Citizen Article - March 2, 06 - Vandekamp walks on thin ice...gets fined
March 2 2006 at 7:54 AM
Vandekamp fined by WHL
Cougars head coach disciplined for actions following 4-3 overtime
loss in Kelowna
by JIM SWANSON
Citizen Sports Editor
The Citizen has learned that the Western Hockey League has fined Mike
Vandekamp, the head coach of the Prince George Cougars, for his actions
following Tuesday's game in Kelowna.
The amount of the fine will be announced by the WHL today, league
disciplinarian Rick Doerksen said Wednesday, but it's expected to be $500.
Vandekamp was earlier fined $250 for receiving a game misconduct in
Vancouver on Dec. 7.
The situation resulted after the Rockets won the game 4-3 on a controversial
goal in the final second of overtime. Kelowna forward Chris Ray swept a puck
through the legs of Cougars goaltender Scott Bowles as time expired.
Vandekamp was given the fine for three reasons - stepping on the ice to get
the attention of referee Matt Kirk after the final buzzer; making an attempt
to get to the officials room following the game; and comments suggesting the
goal judge at that end of the ice celebrated Kirk's decision.
"I explained to Mike that his actions are unacceptable," said Doerksen, who
spoke with Vandekamp Wednesday night, going through video clips with the
Cougars coach.
"We have other avenues you can go through when you have concerns. I think he
understands our position on it, and understands that what he did was
inappropriate."
Doerksen said league video clearly shows the puck was in the net before time
expired, and that the celebrating being done behind the glass was arena
staff, not the goal judge. The goal judge, Doerksen pointed out, remained
stoic and professional throughout.
"We have had a chance to see video footage that, in our mind, clearly shows
it was a legitimate goal, that it was in before the green light came on,"
said Doerksen.
"It was a fraction of a second, but it was in before the end of the
five-minute overtime. I expect a team to be concerned on that kind of a
play, like I expect Kelowna would be upset if it happened at the other end.
My concern is about his actions after that. Security people did their job,
and that's probably fortunate for those on both sides. We had a supervisor
in attendance (Gerard Hayes) who spoke to Mike after all the other
situations had taken place."
After Ray put the puck past Bowles, Kirk held a minute-long conference with
his linesmen before signalling a goal that gave Kelowna two points. The
Cougars were anxious for the game to go to shootout.
While Kirk and the other officials talked, the Rockets left for the dressing
room. Vandekamp stepped on the ice three separate times, going a few strides
away from the bench. That's against league rules, said Doerksen. Vandekamp
also ventured toward the referee's room, but was stopped by security. And
it's alleged he had words with either the goal judge behind that net, or a
member of the arena staff. In candid post-game comments, Vandekamp said he
was angry to see the goal judge celebrating Kirk's decision.
"We didn't feel like we were getting any communication at all about it (from
Kirk), and that was the part that was most disappointing," said Vandekamp.
"It was a rare and special situation.
"I never made it that far (to the referee's room). There was security there,
but it wasn't like there was a scuffle of any kind. I went in the direction
of it, but I didn't get anywhere near it."
If there is good news for the Cougars, it's that Vandekamp won't be
suspended for the most important series of this regular season. The Cougars
and Kamloops Blazers meet at CN Centre on Friday and Saturday, the two games
likely to determine who will hold the B.C. Division's final playoff berth.
With eight games remaining on the regular season schedule, Prince George has
a four-point lead on Kamloops, also holding a game in hand.
The two teams will meet in the final game of the season, March 19 in
Kamloops.
n A WHL game between the Saskatoon Blades and the Moose Jaw Warriors was
postponed Wednesday due to inclement weather.
The Warriors team bus was forced back at Buffalo Pound Lake, Sask., where
ice and snow covered a hill, rendering it impassable.
The game has been rescheduled for March 14.
March 2 2006 at 7:54 AM
Vandekamp fined by WHL
Cougars head coach disciplined for actions following 4-3 overtime
loss in Kelowna
by JIM SWANSON
Citizen Sports Editor
The Citizen has learned that the Western Hockey League has fined Mike
Vandekamp, the head coach of the Prince George Cougars, for his actions
following Tuesday's game in Kelowna.
The amount of the fine will be announced by the WHL today, league
disciplinarian Rick Doerksen said Wednesday, but it's expected to be $500.
Vandekamp was earlier fined $250 for receiving a game misconduct in
Vancouver on Dec. 7.
The situation resulted after the Rockets won the game 4-3 on a controversial
goal in the final second of overtime. Kelowna forward Chris Ray swept a puck
through the legs of Cougars goaltender Scott Bowles as time expired.
Vandekamp was given the fine for three reasons - stepping on the ice to get
the attention of referee Matt Kirk after the final buzzer; making an attempt
to get to the officials room following the game; and comments suggesting the
goal judge at that end of the ice celebrated Kirk's decision.
"I explained to Mike that his actions are unacceptable," said Doerksen, who
spoke with Vandekamp Wednesday night, going through video clips with the
Cougars coach.
"We have other avenues you can go through when you have concerns. I think he
understands our position on it, and understands that what he did was
inappropriate."
Doerksen said league video clearly shows the puck was in the net before time
expired, and that the celebrating being done behind the glass was arena
staff, not the goal judge. The goal judge, Doerksen pointed out, remained
stoic and professional throughout.
"We have had a chance to see video footage that, in our mind, clearly shows
it was a legitimate goal, that it was in before the green light came on,"
said Doerksen.
"It was a fraction of a second, but it was in before the end of the
five-minute overtime. I expect a team to be concerned on that kind of a
play, like I expect Kelowna would be upset if it happened at the other end.
My concern is about his actions after that. Security people did their job,
and that's probably fortunate for those on both sides. We had a supervisor
in attendance (Gerard Hayes) who spoke to Mike after all the other
situations had taken place."
After Ray put the puck past Bowles, Kirk held a minute-long conference with
his linesmen before signalling a goal that gave Kelowna two points. The
Cougars were anxious for the game to go to shootout.
While Kirk and the other officials talked, the Rockets left for the dressing
room. Vandekamp stepped on the ice three separate times, going a few strides
away from the bench. That's against league rules, said Doerksen. Vandekamp
also ventured toward the referee's room, but was stopped by security. And
it's alleged he had words with either the goal judge behind that net, or a
member of the arena staff. In candid post-game comments, Vandekamp said he
was angry to see the goal judge celebrating Kirk's decision.
"We didn't feel like we were getting any communication at all about it (from
Kirk), and that was the part that was most disappointing," said Vandekamp.
"It was a rare and special situation.
"I never made it that far (to the referee's room). There was security there,
but it wasn't like there was a scuffle of any kind. I went in the direction
of it, but I didn't get anywhere near it."
If there is good news for the Cougars, it's that Vandekamp won't be
suspended for the most important series of this regular season. The Cougars
and Kamloops Blazers meet at CN Centre on Friday and Saturday, the two games
likely to determine who will hold the B.C. Division's final playoff berth.
With eight games remaining on the regular season schedule, Prince George has
a four-point lead on Kamloops, also holding a game in hand.
The two teams will meet in the final game of the season, March 19 in
Kamloops.
n A WHL game between the Saskatoon Blades and the Moose Jaw Warriors was
postponed Wednesday due to inclement weather.
The Warriors team bus was forced back at Buffalo Pound Lake, Sask., where
ice and snow covered a hill, rendering it impassable.
The game has been rescheduled for March 14.