Music: {allcanada} BAERTSCHI 'SHOCKED' OVER WINTERHAWKS SANCTIONS

Friday, November 30, 2012

{allcanada} BAERTSCHI 'SHOCKED' OVER WINTERHAWKS SANCTIONS

Sven Baertschi, who spent two winters in Portland and is now a rookie with the Abbotsford Heat, told The Calgary Sun Thursday afternoon he wasn't involved in any of the Winterhawks' violations.

On Wednesday, the WHL hammered the Winterhawks for "a series of player benefit violations," stripping the club of their first-round picks for the next five years, suspending head coach Mike Johnston for the remainder of the season and playoffs and assessing a $200,000 fine.

The Winterhawks said in a statement they were punished for providing flights to Portland for family members of seven players over a span of five years, arranging a week-long summer training program for two skaters and giving their captain a cell phone, but the league responded Thursday evening, saying an investigation uncovered 54 violations involving 14 players.

The 20-year-old left-winger added he was "shocked" when he heard news of the sanctions and feels the punishment is "a little over-the-top" for seemingly minor infractions. The WHL has made it clear the Winterhawks were not providing illegal cash payments to players or bending league scholarship rules in the recruiting process.

"It happens sometimes that you try to do something good for somebody and, in the end, you get kicked in the ass," Baertschi said. "I think this is a good example of that. I know I'm so close to all the people (in Portland) and they're such great people, and I'm sure they wanted to be in the rules and they want to make sure they are doing the right things.

"Mistakes happen. Sometimes, you try to do something nice and it goes the other way. This kind of looks like that right now."

Although Baertschi is no longer starring in Oregon, the Winterhawks currently sit atop the WHL's U.S. Division standings. Even with Johnston banned from the bench and no first-rounders to use as chips at the trade deadline, the Swiss sniper figures his former teammates are favourites for the league title.

"It's not going to change anything," Baertschi said. "Portland will be on top at the end of the year."