Both players got a 10 games suspension, a $250 (Canadian) fine and
must sign a statement promising they will not engage in a hockey stick
fight or a fight in the penalty box until the end of the 2004-2005,
otherwise they will be banned from the North American Hockey League for
life.
Both players have already served one game of their suspension and Link
will be back on the ice on December 3rd for the game against de
Saint-Georges de Beauce Garaga. He will miss two games against the Saguenay Fjord, two games against the Laval Chiefs, two games against the Saint-Georges de Beauce Garaga, two games against the Trois-Rivi�res Caron et Guay and one game against the Verdun Dragons.
October 30, 2004 - Tonight, Link's team, the Thetford Mines Prolab, won 3-1 against the Quebec Radio X, the team with the second best record behind the Sorel-Tracy Mission in the North American Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers
enforcer Donald Brashear plays for the Radio X during the lock-out and also
ex-Montreal Canadiens enforcer Sylvain Blouin, who didn't played cause
he was injured.
Link was thrown out of the game during the first period after a series
of events involving him and Quebec's defenseman and enforcer Jason
Hamilton. Here's what happened: Link wanted to drop the gloves against Hamilton
but Hamilton refused and held his hockey stick like a sword and tried to
hit Link, who decided to hold his hockey stick the same way. A "fencing
match" ensued and both players were sent to the penalty box by umpire Steve
Begin.
This proved a huge error for Begin, who should have thrown the two of them out of the game right away cause a shouting match began in the penalty box between
Link and Hamilton and Hamilton picked a water bottle and threw it to
Link, who respond by trying to hit Hamilton with his hockey stick and the
"fencing match" started again!
Hamilton then jumped in Link's penalty box and both started to fight
again in the penalty box! The umpire and linesman needed a policeman's help
to separate Link and Hamilton. Both got thrown out of the game with two
Extreme Misconducts each and they will probably be suspended.
After being ejected, Hamilton was seen outside Thetford Mines Arena,
"looking for Gaetz" but, luckily, Link didn't play that silly game and
was seen upstairs, in the Prolab owners' luxury box along with Jenny and
Quinn!
October 20, 2004 - Link has joined his new team and his 10 game suspension is over. Link and his family are settled into their new home and he is playing for Thetford Mines Prolab of the North American Hockey League (formerly known as the Quebec Senior Major Hockey League and Quebec Semi-professional Hockey League).
Hockey Gladiators officials say that the decision was made due to the pressure being exerted by the law officials in Winniipeg, Manitoba Canada. The event was moved across to Canada after Minnesota also declined to be a host for the event due to ongoing renovations in their facility. G Gorillas recently signed forward Ken Fels was to be a participant in the Hockey Gladiators as well as former Amarillo Rattlers tough guy Jodi Murphy.
�We�re disappointed by this latest hurdle, but it�s just that. We will continue to move forward and find a home for our event� said Darryl Wolski, HG Founder, and President. �Rather than put our participants at risk of a charge, we�re going to postpone Hockey Gladiators until we can secure a new location. It could be as early as a month from now, but no later than 6 months from now.�
The status of the event was first called into serious question last Friday, when Winnipeg Police said they consider it illegal and would have officers on hand to investigate if it went ahead. Supt. Stan Tataryn denied at the time that any pressure was being exerted. The Criminal Code of Canada defines an illegal prize fight as an encounter with fists or hands between two people who specifically meet to fight and who are not sanctioned by a boxing association.
Walker has called the event ``wrestling on ice, a TV production staged with some of hockey's most colourful characters.'' There is technically no prize for the winner, but competitors are paid ``talent fees'' that increase as they live to fight another round.
Plans to hold the event in Winnipeg finally collapsed Tuesday when Walker and Wolski could not give adequate assurances to Winnipeg Enterprises that the event was legal.
After pulling out to a 2-0 game lead in the series, St. Jean could not keep things together, and Verdun came back to win the subsequent 4 games, beating St. Jean in the best of 7 series. The series was certainly an exciting one, but St. Jean lost their momentum and never regained it. Congratulations to Verdun on their victory. Latest word I have on the team is that St. Jean has signed Patrick C�t� for next season. (Special Thanks to Dave (AKA Hockeywolf) for the updates.)
Born in Vancouver, British Colombia, Link Gaetz is considered one of the most respected players on the circuit Gaudette. Gaetz, 6'3" and 240 pounds, originally came to the LHSMQ 2 years ago with River-of-the-Wolf. He accumulated 224 PIM in 35 games. Last season, he started with Predators of Granby, and finished the year with the Param�dic of the Saguenay. In 55 games, Link accumulated 372 PIM.
Team manager Tony Ciarciello was pleased to announce the transaction. "We've had our eye on him for some time," he acknowledged. "Link is the one of the best policemen in the league and respected of all his peers. This will bring a new dimension to our team."
� 1999-2005