Fleury cleared to play in Alberta
CALGARY (CP) - Theo Fleury has been cleared to play for the Horse Lake Thunder senior hockey team after a second appeal to Hockey Alberta. "In the last four or five days we've communicated with the NHL and NHLPA and they've provided us with documents saying they do not consider him a locked out player so on that new information he can now play," Hockey Alberta general manager Gary Mills said. Mills said Fleury's argument that he did not have a valid contract because he had been suspended for substance abuse didn't apply in this case. But the fresh information about his status makes him eligible he said."This chap is not considered a locked out player because he can play anywhere he wants," he said. The team's coach is relieved this has finally been resolved. "It's been a big distraction," said Glen Watson. "For some unknown reason, they thought he wasn't eligible to play. "Now it's over with and now he's going to be playing." Watson said Hockey Alberta came to a decision after looking at information given to it by the team. The fact that Fleury is now eligible to play could open the door for teams to go after other free agents said Mills. "That's a possibility and that's an issue that not only Hockey Alberta and all the other branches in the country are going to have do deal with," Mills said. "The only players that are considered locked out are those under contract for this hockey season." Former Vancouver Canucks enforcer Gino Odjick plays for the Thunder. Fleury is expected to be in the lineup when the team plays a league game against the Spirit River Rangers on Saturday night. The former star with the Calgary Flames and New York Rangers didn't immediately return calls Friday although he said recently he just wants to play hockey and was hoping to help the Thunder win the Allan Cup this year."You've got a guy that played that long in the NHL, then I phone him ... he sounded like a little kid," Watson told CFGP in Grande Prairie, Alta. Game 3 of a best-of-five senior triple-A quarter-final playoff series against the Stony Plain Eagles goes Jan. 30. The series is tied 1-1. Former Calgary Flames star Lanny McDonald was happy for his longtime teammate. "Theo loves the game so that part is great and if it helps kickstart his career again, wherever that may go, hey it's perfect," said McDonald. Earlier this month, Hockey Alberta denied the team's first appeal on Fleury's behalf. It said at the time that NHL players who were under contract during the 2003-2004 season and who are currently locked out were ineligible to play in the senior league. Fleury was still under contract with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, but did not play a single game because he was suspended by the NHL for violating the league's substance abuse rules. Fleury, 36, last appeared in the NHL with the Blackhawks 17 months ago. Just getting back into the game is an important move, said McDonald, who won a Stanley Cup with Fleury in 1989. "Sometimes it takes baby steps along the way to eventually get to where you want to go and maybe this is the first positive step or news in a while so good. Let's hope the rest of it is all positive from here on in," McDonald said. Fleury and the Thunder had argued that he should be allowed to play because he didn't play in the NHL last season. He made headlines in early January when the Thunder of the North Peace Hockey League announced they had signed him. But just hours before he was to step on the ice for his first game, Hockey Alberta announced he was ineligible. Fleury is a native of Russell, Man., and had 1,088 points (455 goals, 633 assists) in 1,084 career NHL games. |