KIJHL suspends Rebel skipper for tampering
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Kootenay International Junior Hockey League president Bill Ohlhausen confirmed that Castlegar Rebels head coach Bill Rotheisier has been suspended for 45 days for tampering.
Ohlhausen said Rotheisier, who began serving the suspension September 6, is to have no contact with the team one hour before and after any game during the suspension.
“Information was given to us regarding player tampering by Castlegar and the disciplinary committee suspended (Rotheisier) for 45 days,” Ohlhausen said Saturday as he headed to 100 Mile House for a game between the defending KIJHL Champs and Osoyoos Coyotes.
“Castlegar decided to appeal the decision, but the decision was upheld by a five-member committee of governors from the other (Okanagan/Shuswap) Conference.”
Ohlhausen said tampering charges were brought to the attention of the league by the Princeton Posse.
It appears “texting” may have been the undoing for Rotheisier.
“There are rules and regulations preventing coaches from contacting players . . . even through other players,” Ohlhausen explained.
“So teams have to be careful.”
Castlegar, which won its first game Friday in Fruitvale by outlasting the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 7-6, face Nelson Leafs Saturday in the Sunflower City.
Rotheisier assumed head coach and general manager duties of the Rebels during the summer after spending last season as an associated coach in Creston.
Before Creston Rotheisier skippered Princeton Posse.
Rotheisier’s suspension concludes October 21.
