Daily Dish: $25,000 Secrets - Junior Hockey News

Published: Friday, 17 Feb 2012

By: Stephen Heisler | Web site: JuniorHockey.com

The North American Hockey League's Commissioner, Mark Frankenfeld, has come up with a fantastic way to secure the league's commitment to screening our readers from internal developments within the league; a $25,000 fine for any owner that is discovered to be in communication with me.

How did they come up with that figure?

Frankenfeld is making the league look like an episode of Get Smart. "Ok 99, let's send a different message to each of the suspects, than figure out who spills the beans to Mr. Big," Maxwell might be heard saying to the sexy agent 99.

How do you like that? The NAHL has had to deal with noodle strainer syndrome long before JuniorHockey.com entered the arena. Marc Foster operated The Junior Hockey Blog for a few years before we got started.

"I used to get text messages and emails about what was going on during the meetings, and would have it posted before the meeting concluded," Foster has said. "Obviously, the league was not thrilled about those leaks."

"Somebody was telling Foster, I could not police the entire room, and it was not that big of a big deal," said a former high-level NAHL league official. "Why is the league now so concerned about secrecy?"

Those lines of communication were immediately opened when we started this site, and the flow of information has grown into a river ever since.

So Mr. Frankenfeld, what is the big secret? The league could steal a lot of our thunder by live streaming video (or audio for conference calls), and showing that on NAHL.com. If the league spent more time forcing teams to operate within league guidelines and less time trying to figure out how to plug leaks, I'd have a lot less to write about. On second thought, please carry on because you are the MVP of the Daily Dish. Every time I mention your name, we get an extra couple thousand viewers.

Maybe Maxwell Smart could lend some ideas to Frankenfeld's top secret league operations.

What do you think?

Author: Stephen Heisler from JuniorHockey.com

JuniorHockey.com Lead Editor

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Discuss:

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 10:52am

Randy Russon says:

Is Frankfield for real? Has he never heard of freedom of speech, let alone freedom of the press?

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 11:38am

Stephen Heisler says:

Randy,
The Detroit Free Press is not considered a real news source for NAHL info...the only info that can be confirmed is what is found on NAHL.com

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 12:04pm

Randy Russon says:

Little wonder that the NAHL is floundering.

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 12:45pm

Jack Dodd says:

unbelieavable! who is this guy, Hitler?

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 1:44pm

David Dunlap says:

QUESTION?

Stephen, can you prove - "a $25,000 fine for any owner that is discovered to be in communication with me" - ?

Is this fact, innuendo or just a headline?

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 1:44pm

JuniorHockey says:

No... Maxwell Smart

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 3:13pm

Stephen Heisler says:

David,
I've been told this by 11 different owners...

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 5:16pm

Charles Bukowski says:

Randy,

Might want to re-read your copy of the Bill of Rights. 1st Amendment guarantees that government will not prohibit free speech or free press. Private business are under no obligation to share thier information with the public. Why does Mr. Heisler seem to think he is entitled to information from the NAHL or any other league?

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 5:24pm

Charles Bukowski says:

Also, can you really call junior hockey.com part of the press? Heisler uses the site to try and generate cash for himself. He is activley soliciting money from the teams and leagues he "covers" on this site. That is not journalism, that is called being an entreprenuer. Nothing wrong with that but let's call a spade a spade. I just hope he spends as much time trying to place those boys who have paid him cash to be listed on this site, as he does digging up dirt.

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 7:01pm

JuniorHockey says:

Charles,
The A-List is about self promotion, not about ME placing players. $100 is not a lot of money compared to the other sites that deliver a fraction of the traffic we generate as a news site.

Regardless of what you think, we provide a ton of coverage for the leagues that do not advertise on this site. The USHL, Can Hockey League, EJHL, and USA Hockey do not advertise here, yet we provide coverage.

With your thought in mind, ESPN gives money to the NFL, should they not be considered a news source? NHL and NBA teams advertise in all sorts of media, does that mean that the NY Times, USA Today, and others should not be considered a news source?

About the NAHL, any information that I can find is fair game. The fact is, the owners, players, coaches, and fans are my biggest source of that information.

The league wants fans to buy tickets, but does not want them to utilize this site for any news.I don't know, but I don't recall seeing any ESPN trucks outside of NAHL arenas. Heck, I am not sure if ANY other news source covers the NAHL as we do.

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 7:10pm

JuniorHockey says:

Might be fair to tell the readers...

Charles joins us from Frisco, Tx and has been all over this site for some time. His visits generally stick to whatever we are saying about the NAHL. He also took a lot of time reading anything related to Tony Curtale.

Charles may or may not be his real name, but he has lurking hee for a very long time.

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 7:36pm

Randy Russon says:

Charles,

You are disputing freedom of speech and freedom of the press? Yikes. What planet are you from? Have you ever heard of the "Freedom of Information Act?" Apparently not.

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 7:38pm

Randy Russon says:

Charles,

P.S. I would hope that Heisler uses this site to generate cash. Do you expect him to work for free? Do you? Get real, man. Who doesn't work to try to make a living? Not me. You?

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 8:25pm

JR Ruiz says:

$25,000 fine for the actions of owners off the ice, yet no fine or suspension for a certain coach for his suspect actions during a game. The league should provide more protection for the players, as is there duty, not to protect the shady dealings behind closed doors of certain parties...just a thought!

posted Feb. 17th, 2012 - 11:36pm

andrew Carmichael says:

Stephen. "no one has ever stirred the POT" like you do. Lmao

posted Feb. 18th, 2012 - 11:42am

John Schwarz says:

Stephen, "God bless you, its time that their are people that protect the players interests in hockey. Dont ever back down to anybody and as long as you stick up for the players, and their rights, you will be well respected and deserve the small incomes you generate. You deserve more for all the hard work you do. You also put all teams on notice that you will do whatever it takes to help the players even if it costs you advertising revenues from teams you blow the whistle on.

posted Feb. 18th, 2012 - 12:16pm

Stephen Heisler says:

Thanks John

posted Feb. 18th, 2012 - 3:11pm

Randy Russon says:

Just curious how much money Frankenfeld makes as commissioner of the "red ink" NAHL? And does he get a commission for every new team that has joined the league since he's been commish?

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* Article disclaimer: This site may contain advice, opinions and statements from various authors and information providers. Views expressed in this article reflect the personal opinion of the author, Stephen Heisler, and not necessarily the views of JuniorHockey.com. JuniorHockey.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other info provided in the article, or from any other member of this site.