Wednesday Wrap-up Crazy news from the NAHL and Florida Court Records

The Chippewa Steel, a member of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are once again navigating a coaching change, but this one is already generating serious heat. The team's new bench boss, Canadian product Rick Ferroni, has started his NAHL career off with a bang. Unfortunately for the organization, it's the kind of explosion that sends shrapnel through a locker room and raises profound questions about player safety and basic league oversight.

The Steel are mired in a five-game losing streak, but the on-ice losses are almost secondary to the alleged collapse of the team's internal culture. Sources indicate that the players' level of respect for their new coach has been completely diminished. This reportedly stems from Ferroni's behavior, particularly during a recent series in Janesville where he allegedly spent the last two games screaming and belittling players for not wanting to "brawl it out." This "tough guy" approach has apparently extended to personal, targeted bullying. The coach is accused of using "pet names" for players, including the astonishingly cruel nickname "make-a-wish" for one player, simply because it rhymed with his last name.

This behavior, if true, isn't just "old-school" coaching; it is a clear and direct violation of the USA Hockey and U.S. Center for SafeSport policies that all members are required to follow. The SafeSport code explicitly prohibits "Emotional Misconduct" and "Bullying," which it defines as verbal acts, name-calling, and ridiculing intended to hurt or tear down an athlete. The alleged "make-a-wish" nickname is not a gray area; it is the textbook definition of a "verbal act" that attacks a player personally. When the coach reportedly admitted to using the nickname, his justification—that his own daughter was a beneficiary of the program years earlier—is irrelevant and demonstrates a stunning failure to understand the power dynamic and professional boundaries essential to coaching. It's an admission that not only confirms the act but shows a lack of remorse or understanding of its harm.

The allegations of emotional misconduct are compounded by a report of staggering neglect. A 17-year-old, 2008-born player was allegedly put out into the street when a new player was brought in and summarily given his spot at the billet house. This minor, unable to secure a hotel room due to his age, was reportedly forced to drive all the way to a friend of his father's home in Madison. When pressed, the coach allegedly downplayed the incident. This action, if verified, moves beyond bullying and into the realm of child neglect. A junior hockey organization assumes a duty of care for the minors entrusted to them. Removing a 17-year-old's housing without a safe, confirmed plan is a catastrophic failure of that duty and another severe SafeSport violation, which protects athletes from "Acts that Deny... Support" and neglect.

Beyond the immediate player safety crisis, the coach and the Steel organization could be facing a serious legal problem. As a "Canadian product," Ferroni cannot legally work in the United States as a coach simply by crossing the border. He would require a specific work visa, such as a P-1S (for essential support personnel) or an O-1 (for an individual of extraordinary ability). Allegations are surfacing that he may be working without this proper documentation. This is not a minor clerical error; it is a violation of federal immigration law. If true, the coach himself faces severe consequences, including deportation and being barred from future entry into the U.S. The Chippewa Steel organization would be in even deeper trouble, facing massive financial penalties—up to $10,000 per violation—and potential criminal sanctions for knowingly employing an unauthorized worker. It’s a level of operational negligence that is staggering, even for the often-chaotic world of junior hockey. Only in the NAHL, it seems, can a coach be accused of violating SafeSport and federal immigration law at the same time.

On another NAHL note, rumors are swirling around the Maine Nordiques again. We are hearing that head coach Nick Skerlick is still having a hard time getting paid for the work he is doing. Considering the league previously refused to allow him to seek other opportunities within the NAHL, it seems unlikely the league will step in to get the coach paid and made whole this week. Skerlick's best option may be to seek a legal remedy through Maine's labor laws.

Moving to another battle, it is our understanding that Black Bear TV has filed a lawsuit in Florida against LiveBarn. The suit alleges that LiveBarn has been selling licensed video content that belongs to Black Bear TV. This legal fight is not likely to end well for the defendant; it's hard to see Black Bear owner Murry Gunty resorting to expensive litigation without having clear evidence to support the claims.

Finally, JuniorHockey.io is in talks with arena facilities near Chicago and Washington D.C. to produce a series of prospect camps aimed exclusively at 2009-2010 birth-year players. These events are being planned for June and July of 2026. The cost for the likely four-day event will be set at less than $99. More information regarding these potential events will be provided in the next four weeks.