War of Words Continues

Walsh Issues Rebuttal to Dugas

Kingfishers GM Matty Walsh

Blacks Harbour, NB - The ice has long melted at the Fundy Arena, and the celebrating is long over with as well. It has been three weeks since the end of the 2008-2009 season and Matty Walsh still has some unfinished business that he felt he needed to get off his chest.

The FIHL champs goalie Andrew Dugas sent out an e-mail after his team won to many players throughout the league that didn't sit well with Walsh. The message was congratulatory to many of the players and teams but did include some things about the Kingfishers that Walsh didn't like and didn't think was fair. The comments caught him "completely off guard" as he had always felt that the league was all in fun and that win or lose, everybody was happy. Dugas was critical of the voting process put in place for the team and individual winners; citing things like virtual ballot stuffing where people got votes because they were friends and not really reflective of how valuable they were or how talented they were either. For the record, the voting by all 7 teams decided that the Fundy Kingfishers were the Organization of the Year and this didn't sit well with Dugas. The votes were all based on the regular season only and did not include playoff action.

The Hockey Voice prides itself in being fair and balanced in its reporting and wanted to relate Dugas' story as well.

Here is the exact e-mail from Dugas.

Well ... where to start.....?

Thoughts

First I just want to put my 2 cents into this!. (Matty knows where I'm coming from with this for I sent him a personal e-mail regarding the matter earlier in the season). This being just an industrial league hockey and our awards being really just names appointed to a title and no actual hardware for the winning player to hold onto. I do want to say I believe there was a major over looking in one of the awards. I only wish that in the awards GM's could vote for their own team (Yes; I do understand why they can't). But I still can't realize why the Kingfishers got best Organization. Truthfully I think it takes more then just buying some new jersey's in order to win this award. The reason I say this is. I truly believe our team should have gotten this ...... based purely on the fact of the hard work, before the season started and during the season, by Dan Levesque. From having the teams money paid in full by the first deadline is one feet that's hard enough ( Trust Me!!!... If any one don't believe me try taking care of collecting your teams money next year and see how much fun it is.)

Secondly; we went from being like every other team in the league last year having 14 players and only 7-8 show up at some games. So this year we toke 17 players in hopes that at least 12 would show up. It just so happened that we got 17 players that still have a love for the game and want to play every night! Hats off too... 1. Our players and 2. Levesque for finding them all!! Thirdly; we as a team went from a 6-17-1 record last year being last place in the league. To a record of 14-8-2 this year and a perfect 6-0 through the playoffs. I'm not saying all this to be a dink, I just believe ya got to give credit where credit is due. I feel Levesque desires all the credit fir his behind the scenes work that doesn't usually get noticed!!

Class

Secondly; I'd like to say hats off to everyone in the league this year. I think the league saw great growth in its 3rd year. Not only by adding 2 more teams but also in adding a diffident constitution. And holding the teams/players to the constitution. At first there was player problems that was addressed and then stuck to quickly as the season went on. I know no one likes to have to be the enforcer of the off ice rules but it was done ... and backed up by the other GM's/players of the league. GOOD WORK!. Then there was some money issues I'd like to say good work for the Pirates coming together at the end of the year and paying the extra money per player. In-order to keep playing. By no means did we want to kick anyone out of the league but more importantly we didn't want to shorten the league by one less team. More growth in the league was even shown as the season went deeper. Just like to say hats off to the Community College as the season went on they quickly became the team that no one wanted to play because you never knew what to expect. From beating the First place XXX to giving the Kingfisher a run more then once; specially in the playoffs! Good Job all around NBCC! I also like to mention a special THANKS and HATS OFF to Kenny Wright. As if we weren't happy enough to have won the Fish Bowl to have it presented to us by Kenny's young fella that was defiantly a highlight and top notch move to end the season. Hats Off to the Wright's! Last but not least Hats off to XXX. For the past 3 years ( yes years not seasons. For even at the bar during the summer we still heard how you guys were going to kick our ass) we've heard the... well ... lets just say...remarks... haha! But even in losing there was nothing but well wishes and surprisingly even a couple phone calls of Congratulations long after the game was over! I only hope that any e-mails and phone calls that where sent my way where even received by Levesque!! As fare as I'm aware where not like Montreal. We're going into next season with all our players still under contract! For the most part I believe they all should be their to Defend The Fish Bowl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is Walsh's own words;

"Dugas is right … we will overturn the votes for this award … let me know where to drop off the keys off for the Viper we got for the organization of the year award.

P.S. I won’t be going out of my way doing the awards next season, this is the 2nd year in a row Dugas has complained about them. They are just for fun. Perhaps one might argue that Mr. Van Wagoner isn’t the caliber of defensemen as Eric Jean or Chris Hoffman, or maybe someone may not feel Jordan Morrow is our league MVP. For people who people who think this, I say tough, this isn’t the NHL. I strongly support our league award winners as voted by their peers including the Kingfishers as organization of the year.

I can’t believe someone running another team would shoot down a fellow franchise via e-mail. You have to be a good winner as well as a good loser to show true class.”