KIJHL investigates deal gone bad between Nelson and Osoyoos
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr
The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has commenced an investigation into a deadline deal gone bad between the Nelson Leafs and Osoyoos Coyotes involving 19-year-old forward Josh Gray.
“Right now (Josh Gray) is still part of Kimberley but he can’t play at this time,” KIJHL president Bill Ohlhausen told The Nelson Daily Sunday.
“I have no more information about the situation,” Ohlhausen added. “Anything more you’ll have to get from Nelson.”
The Nelson Daily learned the incident involving Gray (1992) began prior to the January 15 B.C. Hockey roster deadline.
Nelson coach and GM Frank Maida received permission to talk with Gray about coming to Nelson.
Gray, who had left the Osoyoos team after 28 games, wants to get into firefighting and Maida had consulted with Nelson Fire Chief Simon Grypma about the idea of the Gibson’s native getting some education through the Heritage City department.
After Gray liked what he heard from Nelson, Maida then informed Osoyoos head coach Ken Law Gray was ready to come to the Leafs and how could the two clubs complete a deal.
Maida thought he had a deal with Law before stepping onto the ice for Leafs practice.
However, when Maida returned to his office in the NDCC Arena he learned Gray was dealt to Kimberley in exchange for the playing rights of 1992 defenceman Lane Koentges.
“We (KIJHL) understand (Gray) does not want to go where he was traded to,” explained Ohlhausen, wanting to somehow get this problem solved so Gray can get back playing hockey.
“But right now any decision we make all hinges on what we hear from the teams.”
“But it’s very difficult and I can’t say anything right now,” Ohlhausen added.
Gray is a 6’3”, 205-pound winger who help Osoyoos to the KIJHL title last season.
He has 10 goals and 21 assists before leaving the Coyotes before in December.
Ohlhausen said the league is committed to finding a solution “as soon as possible”.
Nelson, third in the Murdoch Division, is coming off its second overtime loss in three games Saturday 4-3 to the Fernie Ghostriders.
Meanwhile, Kimberley is two points behind the Riders in the Eddie Mountain Division while Osoyoos is locked in a race for the Okanagan Division crown with three other teams.
Currently Princeton leads the Okanagan Division by one point over Osoyoos and three ahead of both Penticton and Kelowna.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
