WHA offer rejected by Crosby

[Rock]

WHA offer rejected by Crosby

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...TPSports/Hockey

Teenager turns down $7.5-million deal to remain with his Rimouski junior team

By TIM WHARNSBY

HOCKEY REPORTER TORONTO

Thursday, August 26, 2004 - Page S9

Teenage hockey sensation Sidney Crosby has turned down a lucrative offer to play in the fledgling World Hockey Association.

Troy Crosby, the father of the 17-year-old junior star, confirmed yesterday that the Hamilton franchise of the WHA made a three-year, $7.5-million offer this month that would have guaranteed Crosby $2-million up front.

But, after careful consideration, Crosby decided two weeks ago to return for a second season with the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Crosby, of Dartmouth, N.S., returned to Rimouski yesterday to join his Oceanic teammates at training camp. He missed the first week of training to rest after he returned last week from the eight-day Canadian junior team summer evaluation session in Calgary.

"It wasn't an easy decision and the offer was very flattering," Troy Crosby said. "It was a lot of money.

"I realize some people might not understand why Sidney turned down the offer. But he has his mind made up right now about where he wants to play. He wants to stick to his plan of playing another year in Rimouski. He's 17 and he is not playing for the money right now. He feels playing junior is the best way to continue to develop."

There were several factors that went into the player's decision.

First, the Canadian junior player of the year, who scored 135 points in 59 games, has some unfinished business in junior hockey. He wants to play for Canada again at the world junior championship and win it in Grand Forks, N.D., at Christmastime. Last year, Crosby and the Canadian juniors lost a heartbreaker to the United States on a fluke goal in the final.

Crosby also wants to lead the Oceanic to a championship.

Another factor was the uncertainty of the WHA's starting up in the fall.

"It's exciting that there might be a new league," Troy Crosby said. "We wish them luck, but right now there is nothing concrete. There are a lot of question marks."

The Toronto franchise drafted Crosby last month, but made a handshake deal with Hamilton that if Toronto could not get an arena lease deal by early August, Hamilton would be free to make Crosby an offer.

The lucrative offer was made and subsequently turned down two weeks ago. Hamilton owner Mario Frankovich did not want to discuss details of the offer yesterday and also declined to comment on where negotiations stand on an arrangement to play at the Copps Coliseum.

The WHA announced on June 9 that it plans to begin its schedule in late October, but yesterday, Peter Young, the WHA's president of hockey operations, said it is more likely the six to eight-team league will not play its first game until mid-to-late November because of scheduling conflicts in some of the arenas.

Meanwhile, Gino Naldini, the front man for the Toronto franchise, has resumed talks with officials of the Ricoh Coliseum, located on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition.

Negotiations stalled this month, but Naldini said yesterday, "I'm confident we can make it work there."

[David Puddy]

[squishyx]

and there goes the WHA....

[AddictedToHockey]

So Crosby passed up the "What Hockey Association" for a chance to play in the "Not-playing-anytime-soon Hockey League".

Why wouldn't the WHA offer a one-year contract, which Crosby likely would have accepted... and if the NHL really is on strike for a year-plus, they'd have a great shot at keeping him and perhaps taking over some of the NHL's prestige.