Post by ALDO#3 on Jun 28, 2007 8:19:08 GMT 1
The Elite League will ignore the new ruling issued by the International Federation that all member countries should have the same transfer deadline, January 31.
And league chairman Eamon Convery said he expected some other countries would also refuse to conform.
Last season, Panthers signed Trevor Gallant from Straubing Tigers after his season ended in Germany and he helped them to win the play-offs, scoring the vital penalty-shot that clinched the championship.
IIHF chairman Rene Fasel said the international deadline would stop such transactions.
"This was a necessary change," said Rene Fasel. "It has almost become a routine that players whose teams have been eliminated from their national play-offs, transfer to another country and continue to play in the play-offs there.
"This is not good for the credibility. By installing the deadline, we will prevent this late-season movement."This would, of course, also involve netminders who have always been treated differently because it is a specialist position.
But Convery said: "We will change nothing, The system we have in place worked well and it will stay the same as last season."
By having a maximum limit of 15 players who need International Transfer Cards, as well as a salary-capping regulation, Convery says that negates the need for a strict transfer deadline.
It does seem that Elite League’s credibility is obviously not a priority with Mr Convery and we can’t comment on last season’s system for the simple reason that the league never told anyone what it was and we should all await with interest to see what happens if any Elite club tries to sign a player from a European team next February without the properly completed international paperwork.
And league chairman Eamon Convery said he expected some other countries would also refuse to conform.
Last season, Panthers signed Trevor Gallant from Straubing Tigers after his season ended in Germany and he helped them to win the play-offs, scoring the vital penalty-shot that clinched the championship.
IIHF chairman Rene Fasel said the international deadline would stop such transactions.
"This was a necessary change," said Rene Fasel. "It has almost become a routine that players whose teams have been eliminated from their national play-offs, transfer to another country and continue to play in the play-offs there.
"This is not good for the credibility. By installing the deadline, we will prevent this late-season movement."This would, of course, also involve netminders who have always been treated differently because it is a specialist position.
But Convery said: "We will change nothing, The system we have in place worked well and it will stay the same as last season."
By having a maximum limit of 15 players who need International Transfer Cards, as well as a salary-capping regulation, Convery says that negates the need for a strict transfer deadline.
It does seem that Elite League’s credibility is obviously not a priority with Mr Convery and we can’t comment on last season’s system for the simple reason that the league never told anyone what it was and we should all await with interest to see what happens if any Elite club tries to sign a player from a European team next February without the properly completed international paperwork.
