(File photo/CKOM News)

By CKOM News

WHL levies $25K fine, suspensions against Warriors for off-ice incident

Mar 10, 2023 | 4:36 PM

The WHL has lowered the boom on the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The league announced Friday it had fined the team $25,000, suspended general manager Jason Ripplinger and head coach Mark O’Leary for five games each, and suspended four players – Connor Ungar, Max Wanner, Lynden Lakovic and Marek Howell – for the rest of the 2022-23 regular season.

Moose Jaw has seven games remaining in its regular season.

The four players haven’t played since being suspended indefinitely Feb. 11 for an off-ice incident.

In a media release Friday, the league said it had completed “an independent investigation into violations of team rules and WHL Standard of Conduct policies.” The WHL didn’t say what the incident was, other than to say it happened during the Warriors’ visit to Edmonton in early February.

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“Though the conduct of the players was not found to be criminal in nature, the conduct was determined to be a violation of team and league rules including the WHL Standard of Conduct policies, as outlined in the WHL Personal Conduct Policy,” the league’s release said.

“In order to be reinstated by the WHL following the completion of their suspensions, the four Moose Jaw Warriors players will be required to complete further personal conduct and respect training.”

The league said the fine and the suspensions to Ripplinger and O’Leary were a result “of failing to provide the proper oversight and supervision required to ensure a safe and positive environment for players, in particular, while travelling.”

According to the league, after hearing of the incident, the WHL Security Network contacted police in both Moose Jaw and Edmonton. After the security network looked into the incident, the WHL asked an independent third party to investigate.

That investigation resulted in the discipline meted out Friday.

“The standard of conduct for persons associated with the WHL is considerably higher than simply complying with criminal law,” the league’s release said. “Everyone associated with the WHL or its member Clubs is expected to conduct himself or herself lawfully, ethically, and responsibly, in a manner that promotes the values upon which the WHL was founded and based.

“Individuals who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are considered to be in violation of the WHL Personal Conduct Policy and guilty of conduct detrimental to the integrity of the WHL. They are subject to discipline, regardless of whether or not the conduct results in a criminal conviction.”