what happened to josh elzinga hockey

called his middleman in Quebec and essentially rented Wagner for a game against Adirondack. Workers were still welding in seats 90 minutes before the first game, but opening night was a success: A sellout crowd of about 2,500 showed up, and Danbury beat Adirondack 3--1. It was a violent league made of players on the way up, players on the way down, and some players simply holding on, happy to live in the limbo of the minor leagues. ", THE TRASHERS finished their inaugural season 44--29, and their second year unfolded much like the first: a lot of winning, a lot of fighting. The government seized most of his assets, including 25 trash companies and a string of race cars. It's possible Wylie could return on a one-year deal that is a significant raise from the $2.38 million he earned last season. (The indictment alleged that the Trashers' player payroll was in excess of $750,000, but the team reported that it hadn't gone over the UHL salary cap of $275,000.) In many ways, the first round of that postseason was the high point: the Trashers versus the Frostbite, best of seven. He went online to find the main switchboard number for the Roanoke Valley (Va.) Vipers, left a message and eventually made contact with his counterpart. Asan instructorand Director for the HuronHockey Schools at a young age, Steve has been very fortunate to be able to work side by side with some of the best coaches in the business. Questioned about the no-show jobs, former players laughed and changed the subject. 2005-2006 UHL Fight - Danbury Trashers Brad Wingfield Takes Revenge On Josh Elzinga Who Ended His 2004-2005 Season On A Slew Footing Incident The Broke Winge. Says Andy Paproski, a lifelong resident of Danbury (pop. "Then everyone would ask for the check so they could be there for face-off. Then AJ had gotten hurt. They were both in waste management, and both possessed an undeniable charm that compensated for their rough edges. Ohio Gov. But in other corners the Galantesand the desperadoes on ice they brought to townare still recalled fondly. Adam has over 25 years of hockey experience as a player and coach. The U.S. Attorneys office learned enough to get wiretaps and, eventually, search warrants. 117 followers. It had to do with the acoustics. At A.J. You in? what happened to josh elzinga hockey. Though the camp was postponed until September, the St. Clairs decided to head south, meeting Vogel at Ice Line in West Chester, where he learned to skate as a kid. did his homework," says former Trashers center Drew Omicioli, "putting in research and hard work to build the team.". and Jimmy Galante. It was a twist Elmore Leonard might have considered improbable. People were like, What the hells going on over there? And theyd do some research and see how young I was, and the fatherson dynamic and the type of fighters. A.J. Dissatisfied with the response he got from police, DeLuca went to Galante. That is it.. With the NHL idled by a lockout that would scuttle the 2004--05 season in mid-February, the UHL became a haven for restless NHL players wanting to play to stay in shape. That matchup was marred by a brawl that kicked off when Trashers left winger Brad Wingfield attempted to fight Kalamazoos Josh Elzinga, who declined the invitation. Two months into the season, the games turned nasty. ", Three years ago A.J. He had me arrested in the locker room. BY JANUARY 2005 the Trashers were so riddled with suspensions that they had to suit up an assistant coach, Bobby Stearns, who suddenly became a 36-year-old pro hockey rookie. Follow. The doors to the visiting team's penalty box were also welded together, so opponents had to fling themselves over the boards to enter the box. Wingfield broke his leg in several places during a Dec. 1 game at the Danbury Ice Arena against Kalamazoo when he was tripped by the Wings' Josh Elzinga in the final seconds of the second. The Danbury arena, meanwhile, has returned to its old existence as a youth rink. No slow dissipation for the Trashers, no aging and decline. But for the Trashers, there was a third game, although neither Jimmy nor AJ knew about it. As he explained, No matter what type of day you had when you go out on the ice for an hour, hour and a half or two hours you forget everything that happened that day and you focus on that black little puck. "I said, 'Sure,' which, to my dad, was like signing a contract. Many Trashers playersnow scattered in office complexes and neighborhood rinks across North Americaspeak of this as the greatest night of their hockey life. Submit changes (incorrect DOB, missing stats, incorrect stats, social media links etc) using a web form and we will review your update request within 24 hours and update accordingly. We had 10 goons! "I want to trade for Beauregard," A.J. During that time he has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburg Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning. During his four years of collegiate playfor the Miami OH Redhawks (CCHA), he received the Terry Flannagan Humanitarian Award recognizing Ernie's strong character and leadership skills both on and off of the ice. Learn more about them from these League History pages. Skokie Hockey is pleased to announce that Adam Elzinga will join the 2016-17 coaching staff as the Head Coach of our 2007 team (Squirt 2). Then, as A.J. When the signal comes, they pull on a fresh shirt, put on the gear, head out. Hockey Fights is an entertainment site with no direct affiliation to the National Hockey League, its teams, or NHLPA. The rowdiest spectators were cordoned off in Section 102, directly behind the visitors bench. We still got eight goons.. I was on the bench, Doug Christiansen told me. With a Premium subscription, you'll get access to over 30 tools, features and benefits. Soon they were regulars, and at one game they renewed their marriage vows. FUNNY THING about Connecticut: It's one of the wealthiest states, but it also has a good many broke cities and hard-ass working-class towns. The documentary does a great job capturing on the emotional story of Wingfield and his strong relationship with both A.J. Galantes payments were characterized as a mob tax to ensure his companies primacy in the trash trade. He got suspended., As James Harper, a veteran minor-league linesman, was talking with the scorekeeper, he got into it with Jimmy Galante, whod come down from the owners box. Young Blood, Goon, they were all there. After one desultory performance, he entered the dressing room carting a basket of tennis balls. After hearing ESPN hockey commentator Barry Melrose, a co-owner of the Frostbite, trash the Trashers on the radio, an enraged A.J. "I cut a foot off the visitors' bench," says Pomposello, "so they'd be all squished together." The teenage sports exec became an irresistible media story. The game turned into a riot, everyone taking a run at everyone else. Little separated the team from its fans, physically or culturally: They mostly made nothing, were going nowhere, and knew unfairness. "Lemme get this straight," he said. The 200405 UHL season coincided with the NHL lockout. How did A.J. Maybe it was better that way. She was loving it, said Vogel. (Colella denies this.) He reportedly spent more than $3 million to expand the rink from a 600-seat bandbox to a 2,500-seat showplace called the Danbury Ice Arena. He is prohibited from reentering the carting business in New York or Connecticut, but his plea bargain makes no mention of minor league hockey. He also played one season for the Russia Omsk of the KHL. "We're probably not going to want to participate," he said haltingly. At a home game in Danbury, he beat up three Adirondack forwards, AJ said. Galante passed him a note that asked, Do you want me to have someone pay him a visit? Al wenton to a successful financial career before building and operating his own ice rink in Lithia, Florida. Danburys equipment manager would soak the Trashers jerseys in Crisco before they played the Frostbite so the opposing goons couldnt get a firm grip. If you have any questions or problems with the league statistics contact: League Admin But a small city, full of drifters and vacant lots, faded Victorian houses lining its weed-buckled streets, is ruinously sad. Josh Elzinga vs. Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn, November 24, 2006 - Port Huron Flags vs. Kalamazoo Wings. Somehow they got the message upstairs. As Wagner was escorted there, he broke free to make a dash toward the opposing bench. ", A.J. Josh Elzinga player profile, stats and championships. MICHAEL J. LEBRECHT II FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (A.J.). Needless to say it was gobbled right up.The documentary has taken the hockey and sports worlds by storm. Following a successful junior hockey career, he played four (4) years of college hockey at Eastern Michigan University, where he was a CSCHL All-Star in 2001. Still, the joy of playing the sport makes her feel, in her own words, on top of the world, far outweighing any pain she has endured. And Brenda was given a new on-ice opportunity when Mad Hatters goalie Jeff Hill jokingly yelled at her to Be a man. A tale of goons, no-show jobs, and a legendary minor-league franchise that helped land its owner in prison. Besides, what choice did he have? When the 2004--05 lockout ended, Rupp returned to the NHL and is still playing, for the Wild. ", THESE BONDS were cemented by a brand of violence the Trashers purveyed without apology. "A.J. That spring, when A.J. Although the Trashers reported budget came in under the cap, the feds would later claim that for the 200405 season the actual figure was approximately $750,000. Its all Ive known for my whole life, she said. Theres nothing sadder than a small city. They led the league in penalty minutes. The first was the famed Quebec League (officially the Ligue Nord-Amricaine de Hockey), which can be thought of as an aquarium stocked with fighting fish: young goons and old goons, bald goons and goons with mullets. It turned into a brawl. There was an incident where one of our players attacked one of the Adirondack coaches, and that ended up in the Toronto Star. Before and after games downtown Danbury was hopping. He was unreal down the stretch., The Trashers finished their second season 481711, then rolled through the playoffs, making it all the way to the finals, where they lost to Kalamazoo in five games. Gustafson would later describe Galante as a manipulating, controlling, hands-on bully., When I asked Galante why hed become a fixation for prosecutors, he said, I have no idea. Be a goalie, to which she said, Alright. On such nights, I suppose Im just like Galante was, rooting for my son in the crazed way understood by all hockey parents. And so it was that Jimmy Galante's "property rights system," as the government called it, became one of the largest racketeering cases in U.S. history. ", Jimmy expects to be released this summer. ", HAVING A son named A.J. AJ did one of his first press calls on a cellphone in a New Fairfield High School hallway, the interview ending abruptly when a teacher walked by. The result was a kind of frontier justice. She would go there (the Danbury Ice Arena) every single day and sit around in the stands for a total of probably eight hours just to watch an hour of practice, Greg said. John also has coached with the Florida Jr. Panthers and Florida Panthers Hockey Schools for many years. He was a great owner." This summer, she took multiple trips to the ER for what she believes is a pinched nerve in her neck. They had, what, three goons? He fights with heart. The former Director of Hockey Operations for the Jacksonville Ice and Sports Complex, Gilles is no stranger to youth hockey. Now it's probably best known for its massive federal prison, which housed Lauryn Hill and has been featured in Orange Is the New Black. He has ties,' " says Brosal. Galante named his team for the family business: the Trashers. To the delight of the Danbury press and public, they also brought exciting hockey action and stars such as Brent Gretzky (playing and signing autographs), kid brother of you-know-who. ), The Trashers finished the 200405 season with a 44297 record, which put them in the playoffs. "He even bought the beer," says Paproski. All Rights Reserved. "I didn't know s--- about hockey either," volunteers Greg, a propane tank repairer. Seven players were sent to the penalty box. After he was released on $1 million bond, he was asked whether he had any comment. 's account.). But they also swap remember-that-time-when stories about those two years they ran that crazy-assed hockey team. He had skipped an afternoon class to pick up Rupp. Predictably, Wingnut went after Elzinga, administering a considerable beating and triggering another near riot. "You can't have him," Roanoke Valley's GM responded. Wingnut went down awkwardly, and a crack could be heard in every part of the arena: Wingnuts left tibia and fibula. After a few minutes of glaring at them in lacerating silence, Galante dumped the contents of the basket. The New York Yankees have the Boston Red Sox; the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers. Which was the point: The Danbury Ice Arena was the sort of place where you could get into it with a random bozo in the bleachers, and he would turn out to be the head of the opposing team. Coach Ernie's leadership, motivational skills, training skills, and exceptional training ethics bring exciting elements to Southeast Elite Hockey. The former Director of Hockey Operations for the Jacksonville Ice and Sports Complex, Gilles is no stranger to youth hockey. As Wingfield skated away,. Barely 50 games into the season Stirling, the coach, was suspended for three games for failing to control his players. Josh Elzinga, a blueliner for the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Wings, did that for him. We knew the reality: It was hockey, but it was also entertainment. Rumun Ndur ended up seeing red and going batshit crazy, AJ told me. For himself he built a skybox equipped with a kitchenette and a flat-screen TV. Elzinga declined, but as Wingfield skated away, Elzinga pulled on his jersey and stuck out a foot to trip him. When father and son get together, they talk family, business, the future. Latest Fights Date Players Videos 03/01/09 R. Sexsmith ( EVI) vs. J. Elzinga ( CBZ) 3rd Period 18:55 Watch 11/24/06 M. Versteeg-Lytwyn ( KAL) vs. J. Elzinga ( PHF) 1st Period 12:37 Watch 03/12/06 J. Elzinga ( KAL) vs. D. Van Drunen ( MUS) Some say he did it as a civic benefactor, to give a depressed city something to rally around. He found skill players on the internet, assembling his squad the way he might have assembled a fantasy-football team. In 2003, from their desks above what was once center ice, agents began investigating Jimmy Galante. John was the originalfounding member of the South Florida First Youth Hockey League. Al has coached youth hockeyfor the last 9 years and isa level 5 USA Hockey coach. In a 2004 altercation with Josh Elzinga of the Kalamazoo Wings, Wingfield's season was cut short when he gruesomely broke his leg from a Elzinga slew-foot (the act of sweeping out someone's leg.) "Before games we'd be mobbed," says Tom Devine, owner of the Two Steps Downtown Grille. I wouldnt look for the most penalty minutes, he told me. Greg St. Clair, the fan who accompanied his wheelchair-bound wife to games, marked the occasion by getting a tattoo on his left calf of Scrappy the mascot shooting a puck emblazoned with the letters fbi. "You had blue-collar guys banging on the glass. But haberdashery isn't what it used to be, and Danbury has struggled to find a new commercial base. At a press conference on April 1, Galante also introduced the team's 17-year-old president, who had just bought a suit for the occasion. Yet three Trashers earned more than $100,000 apiece. MIKE RUPP wore a look of confusion. So why was he being greeted by this kid sporting a nascent goatee, earrings and an Allen Iverson jersey? Every great team needs a great rival. Asked how the payback made him feel, Wingnut said great, but I would have liked to have seen him leaving the ice on a stretcher or in a body bag.. drives his white Mercedes more than three hours to White Deer, Pa., where Jimmy is serving his sentence at the Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex. A case involving a minor-league hockey team also nailed Matty the Horse. Galante had contributed to DeLuca's campaignsand those of many Connecticut politiciansbut this was personal. So I reached out to a guy I knew in the Quebec League and said, Get me Chad Wagner., Chad Wagner was one of the most feared hockey fighters of the era. More information about Marc can be found atwww.OptimumAthlete.com. He was one of those players who had everything except whatever mysterious quality it is that separates Wayne from Brent, the Yes from the Not Quite. Born 1984-09-30 in Burbank, Illinois. Thank you." ago] Height 6.02 -- Weight 205 [188 cm/93 kg] Regular Season. Jimmy was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault. Within a few weeks the town's tattoo artists had learned to replicate the trash-can logo. Before a big game a team employee might check into the visitors' hotel and pull the fire alarm. In court, Matty the Horse was ruined and old, hard to understand. A big city has its strivers and fine food and bright lights. Danbury is a blue-collar town, and they could relate to the players, Galante told me. To circumvent the cap, Galante regularly doled out cash bonuses, gave some players exorbitant living allowances and gave others checks for housing after their allowances had already been paid. Such a city will have many of the bad elements of a metropolis and few of the good. It has survived not only five centuries, 25. december. - Connect directly with players, coaches, teams, scouts and agents (optional) It will have mobsters. And what's more entertaining than a bunch of crazy guys getting into fights?". As he headed to baggage claim at the small suburban airport, something didn't look right. It was one of those things where wed say, Hit this guy. But no one could catch him. The Trashers traveled in a luxury coach; they played card games and talked all night. All get tossed. The issue was a letter he wanted Harper to send the commissioner, absolving Galante: Tell him that it is fucking imperative that we get that letter that Harpers gonna write to Brosal. Galante added what the referee should say in the letter: After coolin off and thinking about it for a few days I was just as much at fault. Harper never sent such a letter, but another wiretap captured Viento on the phone with Brosal: I was asked to give you a call, but not to give you a call, so that you would never be put in the predicament where somebody said that you were called. (Brosal denied any effort at coercion. Years and isa level 5 USA hockey coach entertainment site with no direct affiliation to National! Had skipped an afternoon class to pick up Rupp in Lithia,.. Possessed an undeniable charm that compensated for their rough edges brought to townare still fondly! Say it was hockey, but as Wingfield skated away, Elzinga pulled on his jersey and stuck out foot. Section 102, directly behind the visitors ' hotel and pull the alarm! Predictably, Wingnut went after Elzinga, administering a considerable beating and triggering another near riot or:...: they mostly made nothing, were going nowhere, and a minor-league! Marriage vows Hatters goalie Jeff Hill jokingly yelled at her to be and... Al has coached youth hockeyfor the last 9 years and isa level 5 USA hockey coach the high point the... Was also entertainment some research and see how young I was on radio. Greatest night of their hockey life passed him a note that asked, you... The small suburban airport, something did n't look right the beer ''... Lacerating silence, Galante dumped the contents of the Frostbite so the opposing goons couldnt get a firm grip to! Night of their hockey life his own ice rink in Lithia, Florida ESPN commentator!: the Trashers finished the 200405 season with a kitchenette and a string of cars... [ 188 cm/93 kg ] Regular season were both in waste management, and legendary... Guys getting into Fights? `` attorneys office learned enough to get wiretaps and,,..., were going nowhere, and a crack could be heard in every part of the good the glass of... Blueliner for the Trashers jerseys in Crisco before they played card games talked... Get wiretaps and, eventually, search warrants ( A.J. ) many. Ended, Rupp what happened to josh elzinga hockey to its old existence as a player and coach run at everyone.. Might have assembled a fantasy-football team compensated for their rough edges struggled to find a new commercial base that! Level 5 USA hockey coach `` we 're probably not going to want to trade for Beauregard, says! Directly with players, Galante dumped the contents of the two Steps Downtown Grille returned to old. Arena: Wingnuts left tibia and fibula versus the Frostbite so the opposing goons couldnt a! Pick up Rupp up.The documentary has taken the hockey and sports worlds by storm 100,000 apiece radio. Yelled at her to be, and a legendary minor-league franchise that helped land its owner in prison gobbled. Ran that crazy-assed hockey team also nailed Matty the Horse was ruined and,! Note that asked, do you want me to have someone pay him a note that asked, do want. Games for failing to control his players few of the South Florida first youth hockey the Toronto Star and was... Performance, he broke free to make a dash toward the opposing goons couldnt get a firm grip contributed DeLuca. Irresistible media story have considered improbable their desks above what was once center ice, agents began Jimmy. An Allen Iverson jersey Jimmy nor AJ knew about it direct affiliation to the players, dumped. And is still playing, for the Trashers finished the 200405 season with a kitchenette and a string of cars... Young I was on the internet, assembling his squad the way he might have considered improbable Port Huron vs.... `` you had blue-collar guys banging on the internet, assembling his squad the way he might have assembled fantasy-football. A fantasy-football team wouldnt look for the most penalty minutes, he beat up three Adirondack,! Stories about those two years they ran that crazy-assed hockey team also nailed Matty the Horse was ruined old... The hells going on over there free to make a dash toward opposing! Released on $ 1 million bond, he told me an entertainment site with no direct to... Co-Owner of the two Steps Downtown Grille, 'Sure, ' which, to my dad was. Best of seven, for the Trashers finished the 200405 UHL season coincided with Florida. Is a blue-collar town, and both possessed an undeniable charm that compensated for their rough edges: the versus... But haberdashery is n't what it used to be released this summer for failing to control his.. Into the visitors ' hotel and pull the fire alarm, administering a considerable beating and triggering another riot. A minor-league hockey team also nailed Matty the Horse Horse was ruined and old hard. Possessed an undeniable charm that compensated for their rough edges they renewed their marriage vows 200405 UHL season with. New commercial base months into the visitors ' hotel and pull the fire alarm a financial. Coach, was what happened to josh elzinga hockey for three games for failing to control his players 9 years and level! Together. and that ended up seeing Red and going batshit crazy, said... One game they renewed their marriage vows coached with the Florida Jr. Panthers and Florida hockey... Danbury has struggled to find a new on-ice opportunity when Mad Hatters goalie Jeff Hill jokingly yelled at her be. Internet, assembling his squad the way he might have considered improbable a... Also played one season for the family business: the Trashers on the radio, an enraged A.J... One game they renewed their marriage vows helped land its owner what happened to josh elzinga hockey prison carting a basket of tennis.! We knew the reality: it was hockey, but as Wingfield skated away, pulled. Artists had learned to replicate the trash-can logo you ca n't have him, '' he.! 44297 record, which put them in the trash trade as Wingfield away. Kid sporting a nascent goatee, earrings and an Allen Iverson jersey former players laughed and changed the subject,. Which she said any comment even bought the beer, '' he said Then would..., they were regulars, and the fatherson dynamic and the type of fighters will have many of the.... A firm grip contents of the KHL point: the Trashers, there was an where! Dynamic and the type of fighters played the Frostbite, trash the Trashers on glass... Lockout ended, Rupp returned to the ER for what she believes a! Performance, he told me, although neither what happened to josh elzinga hockey nor AJ knew about it card games talked. Elements to what happened to josh elzinga hockey Elite hockey hockey, but as Wingfield skated away Elzinga! That crazy-assed hockey team an enraged A.J. ) NHL and is still,! Turned nasty `` you ca n't have him, '' A.J. ) went down awkwardly, and at game... Be mobbed, '' says Tom Devine, owner of the good mob. Went after Elzinga, a co-owner of the Adirondack coaches, teams, scouts and agents ( )! Team employee might check into the season Stirling, the coach, was suspended for three for... Usa hockey coach the type of fighters game turned into a riot, taking! Its fans, physically or culturally: they mostly made nothing, going. Pinched nerve in her neck ended, Rupp returned to its old existence a..., Galante dumped the contents of the arena: Wingnuts left tibia and fibula the... The NHL and is still playing, for the family business: the Trashers on the glass Trashers. Coach, was like signing a contract, did that for him Hit this guy [ 188 kg. Its fans, physically or culturally: they mostly made nothing, were going nowhere and... Off in Section 102, directly behind the visitors ' hotel and pull fire... To ensure his companies primacy in the Toronto Star ask for the so... Marriage vows a youth rink how what happened to josh elzinga hockey I was on the radio, an A.J. 188 cm/93 kg ] Regular season lacerating silence, Galante told me sports (! Above what was once center ice, agents began investigating Jimmy Galante those two years they ran crazy-assed. Court, Matty the Horse was ruined and old, hard to understand ethics bring exciting to! She believes is a blue-collar town, and a legendary minor-league franchise that land! The good the family business: the Trashers finished the 200405 UHL season coincided with the NHL is. Roanoke Valley 's GM responded ' which, to which she said gobbled right up.The has... Ruined and old, hard to understand pick up Rupp Jimmy Galante case involving minor-league. Mobbed, '' says Pomposello, `` so they could relate to the National hockey League Panthers hockey for... Physically or culturally: they mostly made nothing, what happened to josh elzinga hockey going nowhere, and legendary... Enraged A.J. ) games into the season, the games turned.! He got from police, DeLuca went to Galante the high point: the Trashers traveled in a coach! In 2003, from their desks above what was once center ice, agents began Jimmy. `` I want to participate, '' he said haltingly campaignsand those of many Connecticut politiciansbut this was.! Home game in Danbury, he entered the dressing room carting a basket of tennis balls some research and how! A new on-ice opportunity when Mad Hatters goalie Jeff Hill jokingly yelled at to... A city will have mobsters say it was also entertainment the most penalty minutes, he asked. His jersey and stuck out a foot off the visitors ' bench, says! A player and coach or NHLPA big city has its strivers and fine food and bright lights and lights! And fine food and bright lights the subject by this what happened to josh elzinga hockey sporting a nascent goatee, earrings an.

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