IS IT TIME EL PASO OWNER CORY HERMAN TO CRUSH THE ROMANOV CURSE? We all lose when the hunger for a competitive advantage overpowers good sportsmanship and honesty

"What's your deal with El Paso," is a question I get hit with a few times every season. The truth is, El Paso Rhinos owner Cory Herman and I were good friends for many years. To the point where his home in El Paso was my United States address while I was in Mexico fighting kidney cancer.

He was one of the few friends that refused to write me off as dead when the cancer advanced to Stage 3. Folks, you really find out who your friends are when that monster steps into life.

That all changed in February of 2017, arguably the time when the Western States Hockey League was at the pinnacle of their hockey success, and the first league to stop out from under the umbrella of USA Hockey sanctioning. Membership values were at it's highest, and the competition was at it's best.

At that moment, our site then, JuniorHockey. com,  was generating $45,000+ a year in WSHL, AAU, and United Hockey Union revenue. It was an important partnership that certainly benefitted all of us.

Regardless, I'm never going to be someone that values profit over principles.

The Oklahoma City Blazers hosted a late season series with El Paso, a series that was likely going to be a preview of an upcoming playoff series. There was a lot riding on that playoff series, and for the first time in years, El Paso was not going to have an easy time reaching the Thorne Cup finals. 

Not without a little help from Herman's friends. Friends within the league's game officials, leadership, and others.

The Blazers' Russian born Kirill Romanov presented an offensive threat that the Rhinos were concerned about. Did that concern lead to the situation where dishonesty was able to override sensibility? 

The incident in question occurred after the Rhinos 3-1 road win at Oklahoma City. In the post-game, Romanov skates across the ice, by the referee Randy Sappo, and back to the Blazers' bench.

In the interest of being fair, let's present the evidence from Sappo's perspective.

Now, here's what actually took place. keep in mind that this video was posted AFTER the league elected to take action against the player. The "contact" takes place about two seconds in to the video. Romanov is #71. 

This is the article I published in response to the entire fiasco, and what led to the demise of the entire Western States Hockey League.

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Should a gross deception by a league and on-ice game official be grounds for removal from the league, and maybe even level of play? If such a deception is apparently collaborated in an effort to gain a competitive advantage, should those officials be allowed to participate at any level of hockey?

What I’m about to talk about could shake the very fabric of what is expected from the idea of fair play. It is my hope that this Daily Dish results in the immediate suspension and removal of the two adults involved.

After a review and appeal process, the Western States Hockey League Executive Board decided that Oklahoma City Blazers top forward Kirill Romanov has been suspended for the remainder of the 2016-17 season and the 2017 Thorne Cup Playoffs.

The suspension stems from an incident at the end of a game between the Oklahoma City Blazers and El Paso Rhinos in which Romanov skated near linesman Randy Sappo and made incidental contact with the official.

League officials based their decision on the referee report filed by Randy Sappo and an eyewitness report of Executive Committee member Cory Herman, who also happens to be the Head Coach / General Manager / Owner of the Rhinos.

Before saying anything else, please understand that league officials did not have access to this video before finalizing their decision.

On Tuesday, February 7th, the Oklahoma City Blazers were informed by the WSHL that Romanov was suspended for the remainder of the season and the playoffs, for intent to injure an official. Blazers President and Head Coach Tyler Fleck immediately appealed the suspension, and was informed on February 19th that the suspension would be upheld.

The video was posted later that day and has since caused uproar from supporters of the game across the continent.

It’s not a secret that the Blazers and I have had a cankerous relationship in the past. The posted video can’t be the incident that resulted in the suspension. If it is not the incident in question, Fleck should be the one removed from the league and game.

Now let’s get into the deception. Before the game on this date, there was a lot of bad blood between Sappo and the Blazers. During this game, Sappo took advantage of his authority with every opportunity.

It’s easy to understand why Sappo would be motivated to make such a ridiculous claim in his report; it’s personal for him because the Blazers have not been allowing Sappo to work in their building for over a year. Romanov is one of the Blazers leading players and Sappo knew that losing the kid would hurt Oklahoma City’s chances in the playoffs.

What bothers me the most is the account of Cory Herman. This is a guy with deep roots within the game and has all but singlehandedly kept the game alive in El Paso, while lending credibility to the league. I get wanting to win, but when that competitiveness turns to the tool of deception to gain a perceived advantage, the action cannot go unpunished.

My recommendation to the Amateur Athletic Union is simple, both Sappo and Herman should be immediately removed from the game pending an AAU executive review. The actions of these two adults go against the grain of everything the 129 year-old organization stands for. Romanov should be reinstated at once.

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In a shocking turn of events, the Western States Hockey League, United Hockey Union, and AAU refused to address the issue, and even worse, stuck their collective heads in the sand while the hockey world stood stunned in disbelief. 

The damage was done and the WSHL lost the majority of whatever credibility they had left. A few seasons later, the bulk of the leagues United States based teams bolted for the United States Premier Hockey League, without the Rhinos.

El Paso did manage to win championships in 2018 and 2019, but have been unable to match the level of success within the North American Hockey League (or NA3HL) that they enjoyed within the WSHL. 

Legendary NAHL head coach Joe Coombs took the team to the NAHL South Division Semi-Finals in 23-24, but there are way too many egos in the Rhinos front office to keep Coombs around.

What can the Rhinos do to break the Romanov Curse and maybe get back into the good graces of hockey?

I have suggested this in the past, and will do it again now.

Herman needs to publicly acknowledge his role is the gross deception of that 2017 incident. It was eight years ago and clearly Romanov has moved on, but the stench of that deception lingers around the Rhinos program. 

I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. And as long as Herman refuses to make do the right thing, it's going to remain my position that El Paso remains a no-go for any prospective junior player. 

Making sure our clients are being Influenced by people with exceptional character is a core value for our company and most parents. I'm all for second chances, and Herman has done far more good for the game than bad. But the same can be said for thousands of criminals who has a once in a lifetime lapse of judgement.  

Let's end this already Cory, be honest with yourself and make things right with Romanov and the game.