Bullfrogs’ Coach Loses in Silver Family Feud

Stuart Silver said Friday he is moving to take control of day-to-day operations of the Bullfrogs from his father, team founder Maury Silver, and has fired Coach Brad McCaughey, who led the team to the 1997 Roller Hockey International title.

Todd Gordon, an assistant with San Antonio in the International Hockey League, has been hired to replace McCaughey, Stuart Silver said. Richard Ropchan, who guided Team Canada to a silver medal at last year’s International Ice Hockey Federation World In-Line tournament, has been hired as an assistant.

Stuart Silver said he also would assume the general manager’s job, which has been vacant since last September, and announced that former Bullfrog defenseman Daniel Shank, who played ice hockey at San Antonio last winter, has been signed. Shank was with the Bullfrogs in 1995, but played in-line hockey the last two seasons with Orlando of Roller Hockey International.

Maury Silver confirmed that he and his son have been at odds over the coaching situation.

“McCaughey is a very, very, very good coach,” Stuart Silver said. “But I just didn’t feel the club had enough control over players last year. My dad wanted to hire him back, that’s true, but Todd is an IHL coach. He’ll be an NHL coach some day. He’s a real players’ guy. For us to get that caliber, it’s great.”

McCaughey coached the Phoenix Mustangs in the West Coast Hockey League last winter and is due back wages and bonuses of at least $5,000 from the Bullfrogs, Maury Silver said. But Stuart Silver said the amount owed McCaughey is in question.

“The other reason I didn’t want Brad back is that there is this small dispute over money,” Stuart Silver said.

McCaughey declined comment.

After five seasons in the RHI, the Bullfrogs are scheduled to play their first game in Major League Roller Hockey on June 12. They recently restructured their contract at the Arrowhead Pond to include payment of back rent from 1997.

Pond General Manager Tim Ryan said he is confident the Bullfrogs will not fall behind in payments this season. Training camp starts June 3.