Post by animals on Jun 13, 2007 21:45:21 GMT -5
A teenage hockey goalie has won $7,500 in a lawsuit that was filed after he was cut from his his Montreal midget triple-A team.
Henri Richard — a Quebec court judge and not the former Montreal Canadiens star — says the Montreal Predateurs' decision to cut Alexander Di Ruocco was a serious blow to the teenager's hopes of making it to the big leagues.
In a June 1 ruling, Richard said the team's managers reneged on a verbal commitment made to keep Di Ruocco on the team for the 2005-2006 season.
Di Ruocco was cut from the team by new managers, brought in during a management shuffle, who said the teen player performed poorly in the early part of the season.
The mid-season cut meant Di Ruocco couldn't join his former midget double-A team because he'd already been replaced.
Di Ruocco's father Gino said while the family sought $20,000 in damages, he's pleased wit"It's just a question of principle and I'm glad that we have set a precedent for all other kids, all the other Alexanders out there, in all kinds of sports, " he said during an interview with CBC Radio.
"I'm glad that they can finally see that if they believe, and if someone has made them a commitment, then you know what? Believe in yourself and believe in the commitment that was made to you."
Quebec's triple-A midget league has since sent a letter to all its coaches urging them to stand by verbal commitments.
League president Claude Gauthier said while he agrees with the judge's ruling, he doesn't understand why any coach would promise to keep a player for the whole season.
"The only thing we say to a player — and I've been there for 30 years — the only thing we say is, 'you do the job I'll keep you, you don't do the job I won't keep you.' And to a goalie the only thing we say is, 'stop the puck.'" he said on Tuesday.
Hockey Quebec said it will study the ruling.
Henri Richard — a Quebec court judge and not the former Montreal Canadiens star — says the Montreal Predateurs' decision to cut Alexander Di Ruocco was a serious blow to the teenager's hopes of making it to the big leagues.
In a June 1 ruling, Richard said the team's managers reneged on a verbal commitment made to keep Di Ruocco on the team for the 2005-2006 season.
Di Ruocco was cut from the team by new managers, brought in during a management shuffle, who said the teen player performed poorly in the early part of the season.
The mid-season cut meant Di Ruocco couldn't join his former midget double-A team because he'd already been replaced.
Di Ruocco's father Gino said while the family sought $20,000 in damages, he's pleased wit"It's just a question of principle and I'm glad that we have set a precedent for all other kids, all the other Alexanders out there, in all kinds of sports, " he said during an interview with CBC Radio.
"I'm glad that they can finally see that if they believe, and if someone has made them a commitment, then you know what? Believe in yourself and believe in the commitment that was made to you."
Quebec's triple-A midget league has since sent a letter to all its coaches urging them to stand by verbal commitments.
League president Claude Gauthier said while he agrees with the judge's ruling, he doesn't understand why any coach would promise to keep a player for the whole season.
"The only thing we say to a player — and I've been there for 30 years — the only thing we say is, 'you do the job I'll keep you, you don't do the job I won't keep you.' And to a goalie the only thing we say is, 'stop the puck.'" he said on Tuesday.
Hockey Quebec said it will study the ruling.