The management of the Powassan voodoos is breaking its silence on the firing of its head coach Beau Moyer Jan. 29.
And: Voodoos head coach suspended over 'innocent mistake'
A news release this morning from team part-owner Jim Bruce says Moyer, hired in July 2017, did not live up to his contractual commitments with the Voodoos.
"The Voodoos ownership team was compelled to terminate, with cause, their relationship with Moyer," says Bruce. "Issues with Moyer’s behaviour dated back to October of 2017. His conduct was brought forward by the NOJHL Commissioner, Robert Mazzuca, and discipline was brought against him. Additionally, he failed to follow directives from the team’s management and ownership.
"He failed to attend a team practice in November leaving the players to conduct their own practice session to which he received a reprimand. It was brought to the attention of ownership that Moyer was socializing with players on a regular basis. A situation, explained to him, that had to stop on account of player coaching decisions and optics with the hockey community."
Bruce adds that on a road trip to Hearst in December, Moyer was photographed in a bar with Voodoos players of legal drinking age consuming alcohol which is a clear breach of conduct set out in his contract.
"Moyer advised this was the second time it happened in Hearst. The league commissioner ordered an investigation resulting in an indefinite suspension until a hearing could be held."
NOJHL Commissioner, Robert Mazzuca has been silent on the issue, not returning any media calls seeking comment.
"The Voodoos ownership team scrambled to find a temporary replacement coach who led the team in a home game the next day. Bruce Cazabon was retained as a co-coach."
Bruce says there will be some positive announcements regarding coaching in the very near future.
"The ownership group determined it best for Moyer to remove himself from day-to-day operations until the outcome of the Commissioner’s investigation is known. A further situation arose between parents of two players and Moyer. The first resulted in Voodoos General Manager Chris Dawson removing a player via trade to another team at the end of November. The second situation had a player leaving the team in January 2018 for another league outside of the Canadian Junior Hockey League due to alleged mental abuse and harassment. This information was forwarded to the NOJHL."
The Commissioner’s ruling was brought down for the Hearst drinking event which included four conditions:
- 15 game suspension
- $2,500 bond
- Two years probation
- Supervision on road trips by assistant coaches which are to be reported to the Commissioner the day following overnight trips.
Bruce says the ownership group has concluded that these conditions are too restrictive and have a monetary attachment they are not prepared to assume.
"The ownership team, General Manager, and management met with Moyer on January 29th, 2018 stating they were going to go in a different direction and requested his resignation. He declined. He was then terminated with cause effective January 29th, 2018. Moyer asked to speak with the players and coaches but that request was denied."
The Voodoos record is 8-2-1 since removing Moyer.
“Moving forward, the Voodoos players and staff are the priority of the ownership. Our team goals remain the same: NOJHL Championship, Dudley Cup and RBC.”
The Voodoos ownership group is comprised of North Bay area businessmen:
- President Jim Bruce,
- his son Graeme,
- Ray Seguin and
- the two Rivet brothers, Marc and Dan.
BayToday contacted Moyer for comment and he doesn't totally agree with the timelines. He says, "I coached my last game January 15."
We hoped to update his comments, but Moyer did not return a call seeking further clarification.
"This group of five are passionate about hockey and are committed to making the Powassan Voodoos a first class NOJHL franchise," says the news release. "The Powassan Voodoos hockey club is one of the newest teams to join the NOJHL, playing their fourth season proudly out of Powassan.
"The goal of the team’s management and owners is to put a highly competitive team on the ice to which players, coaches and local residents are proud to call their own."
The Voodoos are affiliated with the North Bay Battalion.
BACKGROUNDER TIMELINE
July 20 2017 Beau Moyer officially hired as Head Coach of the Powassan Voodoos hockey club.
October 11 Ownership team president Jim Bruce received a call from NOJHL Commissioner regarding the on-ice behaviour of Voodoo players and the team.
October 18 Moyer meets with Commissioner Robert Mazzuca in North Bay to receive discipline. Moyer agrees to accept discipline as stated. November Moyer slept in leaving players to run their own practice session.
November 23 A player’s parent sends a scathing text message to Moyer which Moyer forwards to GM Chris Dawson and President Jim Bruce.
December 17 President Jim Bruce receives a text message from Commissioner Mazzuca with an attached photograph of Moyer and young men drinking in a bar in Hearst. Mr. Bruce confirms the young men to be Voodoos players.
January 3 President Jim Bruce informs Moyer that he has breached his contract. He explains that it is grounds for dismissal but, since he has ties to the team, his family is well known in the community, that the ownership and management will try and work through it.
January 9 Conference call between Commissioner Mazzuca, GM Chris Dawson and President Bruce advising Moyer has been suspended indefinitely until a hearing is held. Dawson and Bruce scramble to find a temporary replacement (Bruce Cazabon).
January 12 President Bruce meets with Moyer to explain the situation. Ownership determines it best for Moyer to remove himself from day-to-day operations until the outcome of the investigation is known.
Early January A player leaves the team for another league outside of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Ownership speaks with the parent hoping to resolve rather than lose the player. Receive email alleging mental abuse and harassment as the reason for the departure. Information is forwarded to NOJHL.
January 19 Ownership and Management are informed of the Commissioner’s ruling with four conditions: 1. 15 game suspension 2. $2,500 bond 3. Two years probation 4. Supervision on road trips by assistant coaches which are to be reported to the Commissioner the day following overnight trips.
January 29 Ownership, General Manager and Management Meet with Beau Moyer Termination of Beau Moyer
Editor's note: Voodoo's GM Chris Dawson is also a reporter for BayToday.
