Junior team owner suspended for two years after investigation uncovered disgust behavior

PUBLICATION

Josh tupper
June 23, 2023 (10:53)

SHARE THIS STORY

Junior hockey is supposed to be a fun and safe place for players to play. Well. Also competitive the leagues are meant to build young players up and enhance their abilities. However, one junior team owner in London, Ontario didn't receive that memo.

Yesterday the Ontario hockey federation announced that the league had officially suspended. Paul Duarte for 2 years after an investigation uncovered multiple issues. The OHF issued the following statement:

We want to make the game a safe and inclusive place for all individuals. Owners are a leader in the game and they must ensure integrity in their conduct at all times.

During the investigation it was uncovered that Duarte had offered a monetary bounty for the injury of another player on another team. The bounty was said to be for $100 but goes against everything the sports stands for.

Sources told The London Free Press a bounty was allegedly offered for a London player to target a skater on the Komoka Kings in the fall of 2021... The amount of the bounty was $100.

This behavior is disgusting and should warrant a much more severe penalty. A 2-year suspension doesn't even begin to describe the penalty he should have received.