Bill LaForge, new director of operations for...

Bill LaForge, new director of operations for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, has been reassigned by team owner Ron Dixon so he won’t come in contact with the players, who staged a one-game boycott a week ago in protest of LaForge’s forceful style. LaForge had been hired by the Kennewick (Wash.) team Dec. 17.

Dixon said he was putting LaForge in charge of scouting and the players agreed not to boycott any more games.