Quinn Loses First Appeal as NHL Board Upholds Ziegler’s Decision to Expel

Former King Coach Pat Quinn lost another battle to clear his name Friday when the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors upheld President John Ziegler’s decision to expel Quinn from the league.

The appeal was the first step for Quinn in an attempt to lift the league’s sanctions against him--an expulsion from the league for the remainder of this season and a ban from coaching the Vancouver Canucks until the start of the 1990-91 season.

Quinn was expelled Jan. 9, pending an investigation into a conflict-of-interest charge. In the third year of his three-year contract with the Kings, Quinn signed a contract Dec. 24 to become the president and general manager of the Canucks next June 30.

Then, on Jan. 2, Quinn was paid a $100,000 signing bonus by Vancouver.

As a result of the investigation, Ziegler upheld the expulsion Jan. 30. He also fined the Canucks $310,000 and the Kings $130,000, the maximum allowed by league bylaws. The teams were fined for not reporting the deal to the league.

The Canucks’ appeal was heard Friday and continued until the next Board of Governors meeting March 17 in Toronto. The board’s decision was made to allow Vancouver’s majority owners, Frank and Arthur Griffiths, to present their case before the board. The Griffiths were not present Friday. The Kings chose not to appeal at this board meeting.

“All I can say at this point is that I’m very disappointed,” Quinn told reporters outside the meeting room in a Quebec City hotel.

“The issue was very narrow, pertaining to the rules and the use of the rules and the power of the president to use the rules.

“I don’t think that I’m particularly surprised. I guess that’s because you can weigh that any body can do exactly what they did--affirm their president.”

The Board of Governors is made up of a representative from each of the league’s 21 teams. The board was meeting here in conjunction with Rendez-Vous, the two-game series between the NHL All-Stars and the Soviet Union’s national team.

The board met early Friday morning and called in Quinn and four of his representatives. One of Quinn’s New York-based attorneys, George Leisure, then asked Quinn questions for 35 minutes. Quinn’s attorneys also submitted a written brief.

Quinn emerged from the meeting, puffing on his customary cigar. While hockey officials, reporters and Quinn milled outside, the board deliberated for about an hour.

Finally, the governors left the room, sweeping past Quinn. Gilbert Stein, who conducted the league’s investigation last month, called Quinn into the meeting room and told him of the decision.

The bylaws call for a simple majority vote to carry a decision, but Quinn said he had no indication what the vote was or if there had been any debate or division among the governors.

Quinn said again that his intent is to clear his name and that Ziegler’s order and the subsequent publicity has besmirched his reputation.

“The language of the order attacked my integrity and honesty,” he said. “I certainly want that cleared. At no time did I act without the best interest of the league in mind and without the full knowledge of my legal rights.”

Quinn said he especially objected to Ziegler’s use of the word dishonorable in describing Quinn’s actions.

There was a clause in Quinn’s contract with the Kings that allowed him to negotiate and sign a contract with another team. There are no NHL rules prohibiting such action.

Quinn’s options now appear to be in the civil courts. His attorney, Morris Chucas, has said since the start that Quinn has “several” cases for litigation.

There is also the matter of Quinn’s contract with the Kings. Since the expulsion order Jan. 9, the Kings have not paid Quinn. Chucas and Quinn claim the NHL has compelled the Kings to break their contract with Quinn.