"Oh, everyone knew the deal," says Omicioli, "but [we] didn't care. Coach Ernie's interest in athletic performance development stems from his extensive career competing in ice hockey. signed him for another game against Adirondack, in Danbury on Feb. 23, which was also WWE Night. With the NHL idled by a lockout that would scuttle the 2004--05 season in mid-February, the UHL became a haven for restless NHL players wanting to play to stay in shape. Watch Unreal Save by TJ Semptimphelter. "Frank would have been a hell of a Danbury Trasher," A.J. The team slogan was Bad Boys Talkin' Trash. They weren't just happy to go to games. Jon (Nasty) Mirasty averaged more than eight minutes of penalties over 25 games. In this way, they happened across, in addition to all sorts of other malfeasance, evidence of those no-show jobs, which ultimately resulted in additional charges against Galante. She would go there (the Danbury Ice Arena) every single day and sit around in the stands for a total of probably eight hours just to watch an hour of practice, Greg said. Throughout his busy professional career, he has also participated in numerous hockey schools around the country. She accepted and over the next two years would occasionally hit pucks around, even after the Trashers ignominiously folded in 2006. Not a subscriber? They had scorers and skaters and playmakers and defensive stalwarts. "Honestly, a lot of it was getting so close to a championship with the Trashers but not winning. We were paid, and everything was first class. "I didn't know s--- about hockey either," volunteers Greg, a propane tank repairer. "We loved those fansI mean loved," says Omicioli. persisted. Besides, what choice did he have? When A.J. Al has coached youth hockeyfor the last 9 years and isa level 5 USA Hockey coach. AJ considered it unfair to fans if a game had fewer than three fights. Following a successful junior hockey career, he played four (4) years of college hockey at Eastern Michigan University, where he was a CSCHL All-Star in 2001. Ice hockey coach and former NHL forward who won a gold medal in 1980 with the U.S. Olympic hockey team. THE SOUND TRACK of the Starrett City Boxing Club in Brooklyn is on full blast: the thrumming of the speed bag, the grunts of a fighter absorbing shots, the whistle every three minutes to denote the end of a round. They loved playing for Jimmy, because he took care of them. And Galante had the money. Josh Gratton vs Adam Elzinga - Sep 5, 2001 - YouTube NHL hockey fights, brawls, scrums, roughs, hits, cheap shots, and other incidents. Asan instructorand Director for the HuronHockey Schools at a young age, Steve has been very fortunate to be able to work side by side with some of the best coaches in the business. More information about Marc can be found atwww.OptimumAthlete.com. This summer, she took multiple trips to the ER for what she believes is a pinched nerve in her neck. VS. 1st Period - 7:13 . First of all, he was a really good player, AJ explained, and second, the name recognition.. SON CONNOR IS NOW PLAYING IN THE USHL (WATERLOO BLACKHAWKS), Played in over 1,000 games in the NHL, AHL, Swedish Elite League, Finnish National League and more, Private hockey instructor with Saveology.com Iceplex team, Former Assistant Coach for the Florida Everblades (ECHL) during the 09-10 season, Currently the Director of Hockey Operations at TPH Ft. Lauderdale, National Hockey League (NHL) Alumni for the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, 2013-current -Coach with the Florida Alliance/Southeast Elite Program, 2012-current -Coach with the Florida Jr. Everblades, Player for the United States men's ice hockey team in three Olympic's (2002, 2006, and 2010), Playedfour years at the University of WisconsinMadison, This website is powered by SportsEngine's. The Kalamazoo Wings were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Kalamazoo, MI playing in the United Hockey League from 2000 to 2007. Though he started with no contacts in the sport, often relying on Google to find the main phone numbers of other teams, A.J. For 5 years John was with N.I.S.T.C as the Hockey Director and for 3 years he was with theGlobal Hockey School. There were hundreds of fans like Greg and Brenda St. Clair, a Danbury couple who went halfway through the season to check out the new team. They happily agreed. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Kalamazoo Wings (Kalamazoo,MI) United Hockey League [Minor Professional] 2000-2007 [click to view all-time roster] "I still hate even the name Kalamazoo.". puts it, "it got real, real fast." The league set an annual salary cap of $275,000, with a $2 luxury tax for every dollar spent above the threshold. They led the league in penalty minutes. The state senator had also told an undercover agent that he would use his influence to discover anything that could hurt Galante and "blunt it as best I can." They were both in waste management, and both possessed an undeniable charm that compensated for their rough edges. Having collected 563 goals over the course of his 15 seasons in various leagues, Duhart gave the Trashers a second genuine scoring threat. ", "Dad, if this guy had two eyes, he might be one of the greatest NHL players ever! The rest of the game doubled as a near riot. For himself he built a skybox equipped with a kitchenette. It was a different day of hockey., Life for the Trashers was life on the road, going from small city to small city. If you have any questions or problems with the league statistics contact: League Admin The roster was constantly in flux, but it usually had more enforcers than players in need of protection. It started becoming urban legend.. The rowdiest spectators were cordoned off in Section 102, directly behind the visitors bench. And so it was that Jimmy Galante's "property rights system," as the government called it, became one of the largest racketeering cases in U.S. history. For all that's happened, the kid still idolizes his father. And the fans, from section 102 and beyond, still miss their team. Between periods, players take off their jersey and pads. To circumvent the cap, Galante regularly doled out cash bonuses, gave some players exorbitant living allowances and gave others checks for housing after their allowances had already been paid. IT WAS A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE.". Still, it was clear who had the ultimate authority: Before and after some games Jimmy gave the team fiery pep talks and blistering critiques. Rupp played 14 games for the Trashersracking up five goals, five assists, and 30 penalty minutesbefore going back to the NHL for nine more seasons. In 2003, from their desks above what was once center ice, agents began investigating Jimmy Galante. made connections over the summer with agents, scouts and middlemen who could deliver that goalie from Manitoba or that playmaker from Quebec. One night, he got into a shouting match with a stranger who turned out to be the visiting teams general managerthe result being a call to AJ from Richard Brosal, the UHL commissioner, followed by a short suspension. He'd already played 12 seasons of pro hockey: a total of 13 games in the NHL, followed by years of wandering the minors. felt that the Trashers needed a goal scorer. I wound up having words with the referee, and unbeknownst to me, he was a full-time police officer in upstate New York, Galante told me. Follow. So Im like, How the hell am I going to get a trade? I ended up taking this Vipers fan booklet and calling the merchandise number. We're here to win.". A small town has its lawns and picket fences and wholesome values, a big town its go-getters and civic fathers. "It was definitely a unique group of individualsas well as management!" The New York Yankees have the Boston Red Sox; the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers. But AJs favorite was Brad Wingnut Wingfield. Initially, just as a spectator. In professional sports, there are usually two games taking place. On June 8, 2006, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office announced that Galante was the subject of an indictment that included charges of fraud, extortion, racketeering, tax fraud and conspiracy. Having failed to agree with players on a new contract, major-league owners canceled the season. Something was off-brand, faded; he was like a dollar bill thatd been through the wash. Hed already played 12 seasons of pro hockey: a total of 13 games in the NHL, followed by years of wandering the minors. The United Hockey League's $300,000 franchising fee for a new team? No one wanted to fight him, AJ said. They stayed in the best hotels and ate at the best restaurants. He offered Roanoke not just a pair of current Trashers but also other players in the UHL supplemental draft that summer. And, according to court papers filed by the U.S. Attorneys office, his business disputes occasionally ended in violence: For nearly two decades, Galantes enterprise promoted a climate of fear through violence, threats of violence, economic sanctions and threats of economic sanctions. He fights with heart. At 24, Rupp had already spent two seasons in the majors. And that wasn't all. The Danbury Trashers earned respect with their fists as often as their sticks. had been a serviceable defenseman in high school and had followed the Devils, so he reckoned he knew the sport well enough. . For himself he built a skybox equipped with a kitchenette and a flat-screen TV. Jimmy owned a stock car racing team and had long talked about becoming a sports magnate. Listen to the trailer for, the interview ending abruptly when a teacher walked by. PHOTOGRAPHS BY WENDY CARLSON (MASCOT, 5); VIDEO STILLS BY THOMAS BUTKIER (2). The players were aware that their owner was, well, connected. Asked what hes up to these days, he said, Enjoying life.. It will have desperate people, lost causes, and crime. Josh Elzinga player profile, stats and championships. In September 2008, U.S. District Court judge Ellen B. Burns sentenced him to 87 months in prison. Some fights started spontaneously, following a big hit. One was Rumun Ndur, a Nigeria-born Canadian who was known for his aggression. "It was loud," says A.J., "and security was very, let's just say, flexible." ", Jimmy expects to be released this summer. Featured in the NETFLIX documentary Untold: Crime & Penalties, the story of the Danbury Trashers relives the short and tumultuous history of an old United Ho. That was the minimum; that was getting your moneys worth. (The indictment alleged that the Trashers' player payroll was in excess of $750,000, but the team reported that it hadn't gone over the UHL salary cap of $275,000.) "My dad always put me in sink-or-swim-type situations," he says. Soon they were regulars, and at one game they renewed their marriage vows. I remember asking, Why does he have the full mask? Someone told me, Hes only got one eye. Hed lost vision in the othera stick through the visor. He reportedly spent more than $3 million to expand the rink from a 600-seat bandbox to a 2,500-seat showplace called the Danbury Ice Arena. 117 followers. ", HAVING A son named A.J. Wingnut went down awkwardly, and a crack could be heard in every part of the arena: Wingnuts left tibia and fibula. Adam Elzinga. Lets face it: What else does Danbury really have?. Stirling avoided jail time after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment filed with the U.S. District Court in Connecticut, in addition to skating for the Trashers, several players (or their wives) were on the payrolls of his various companiessalesperson, sales manager, whatever. In his 56 games with the Trashers, Wingfield piled up 496 penalty minutes. 69 posts. After the game Wingfield told a local reporter, "It felt great to get back at Elzinga but I would have liked to have seen him leaving the ice on a stretcher or in a body bag.". The 2004 05 NHL lockout was a labor lockout that resulted in the cancellation of the National Hockey League (NHL) season, which would . GET THE PICTURE? If asked why they hadnt made it, theyd tell you no one had ever really given them a shot. Yet the father delegated personnel moves to the son. Many Trashers playersnow scattered in office complexes and neighborhood rinks across North Americaspeak of this as the greatest night of their hockey life. He wore a full face mask. Depending on whom you ask, Jimmy Galante was either one of its mobsters or a legit businessman whose waste-removal company had become associated with the Mafia. Galante spent $3 million to refurbish the Danbury Ice Arena. I'm not just hungry; my stomach is growling. The Trashers featured some of the most storied names in hockey violence. The team was largely the same, with a few additions, including yet another minor-league-hockey legend, David Beauregard. "You don't get involved in verbal altercations," Brosal admonished the ref. Hes working to turn Danbury into a boxing meccaup there with Oxnard, California., Galante got out of prison in 2014. Additionally, Charlie is the Head of Academics for TPH, Estero. Seven players were sent to the penalty box. View the profiles of people named Josh Elzinga. A legion of small business owners still talk about how, on Trashers game nights, downtown blazed to life. Soon, a 3-on-3 scrimmage was underway with Brenda, for the first time in her life, facing shots in a real game. They had their own chants and waved body bags when opposing players lost fights. Upon his release he had rebuilt his empire and now, according to The Hartford Courant, was worth more than $100 million. Jimmy Galante purchased an expansion franchise in the United Hockey League, the equivalent of Double A baseball. Having been a professional player, coach, and instructor for over 15 years, Gilles has been able to help continue to grow youth hockey programs across the state of Florida. Jimmy Galante was arrested on June 9, 2006, not long after the final game of the season. Paul,originallyfrom Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with teams such as Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche. Josh Elzinga vs. Brad Wingfield, December 03, 2005 - Kalamazoo Wings vs. Danbury Trashers. Born Jul 23 1982 -- Burbank, IL. Josh Elzinga vs. Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn, November 24, 2006 - Port Huron Flags vs. Kalamazoo Wings. The second year, Port Huron became the Roanoke Valley Vipers. Maybe because Im Italian and in the garbage business.. During the 201011 season, the Quebec League averaged 3.2 fights a game. It went like this: Elzinga clipped Wingfield in the face, Wingfield asked for a fight, Elzinga declined. Coach Ernie's leadership, motivational skills, training skills, and exceptional training ethics bring exciting elements to Southeast Elite Hockey. We only use official stats. (He also forfeited his ownership in 25 trash-hauling firms.) During that time he has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburg Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning. But by 1 a.m., the Trashers were out of fresh shirts. John was the originalfounding member of the South Florida First Youth Hockey League. On Dec. 3, 2005, Kalamazoo visited Danbury. The week that followed Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination was revolutionaryso why was it nearly forgotten? He named it Champs Boxing Club & Fitness. It was four years to the day from the Trashers' first game. AJ did one of his first press calls on a cellphone in a New Fairfield High School hallway, the interview ending abruptly when a teacher walked by. Born 1984-09-30 in Burbank, Illinois. Rumun Ndur ended up seeing red and going batshit crazy, AJ told me. He took a shot at us, AJ told me. I figured it would be like a video game, controlling players and all that. AJ knew the sort of team he wanted: skill plus muscle, skaters plus goons. - EP Contact Book listing of your profile (optional) A.J. He had once set a record in the West Coast Hockey League with 503 penalty minutes in a single season. Torres said he lost confidence at . The government seized most of his assets, including 25 trash companies and a string of race cars. "The Danbury Trashers were the Syracuse Bulldogs of the movie Slap Shot," says Pomposello, the all-purpose assistant. But in other corners the Galantesand the desperadoes on ice they brought to townare still recalled fondly. When father and son get together, they talk family, business, the future. Then, as A.J. They were the cream of the UHL, one of its best teams and a pet project of hockey celebrities: The franchise was owned in part by the former NHL coach Barry Melrose and the ESPN broadcaster Steve Levy. Now he was turning up with his gear at a regional airport, being greeted too enthusiastically by what looked like a high-school kid claiming to be his new GM. A senior at New Fairfield High, AJ had been an alternate captain of his schools hockey team, which played at the Danbury Ice Arena with Jimmy often in attendance. Yet three Trashers earned more than $100,000 apiece. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features, Drafted 2001, 4 #48 overall by Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the USHL Entry Draft, Drafted 2000, 8 #157 overall by Windsor Spitfires in the OHL Priority Selection. Some say he did it for the same reason he owned a race-car squad: He loved to compete. Little separated the team from its fans, physically or culturally: They mostly made nothing, were going nowhere, and knew unfairness. Fifteen years have passed since the Danbury Trashers disbanded in 2006 as a result of the federal investigation that landed Jimmy Galante in prison after he pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, tax fraud and wire fraud. Launching an expansion hockey team in Danbury seemed less like a vanity play than a natural progression. There was an incident where one of our players attacked one of the Adirondack coaches, and that ended up in the Toronto Star. Questioned about the no-show jobs, former players laughed and changed the subject. According to authorities, DeLuca said yes and provided Colella's address. Hed been named with several others, including Trashers Coach J. Todd Stirling, who pleaded guilty to taking part in the salary-cap fraud. The 200405 Trashers blew through the UHL like a freak storm. How did A.J. I sit in Section 102 and let the other parents have it. The second place AJ looked was where any other fan might have: hockeyfights.com, a website that aggregates footage of brawls on the ice. Still, Vogel wanted something to remember the moment by, so he donned his goalie gear to take some photos with Brenda on the ice. After he was released on $1 million bond, he was asked whether he had any comment. Having played over a decade in the ECHL including four seasons playing at the AHL level (Worcester IceCats, Grand Rapids Griffins, Lowell Lock Monsters, and Rochester Americans), his eight seasons with the Florida Everblades culminated in the team Captain having his iconic #9 jersey retired. Wagner was apologetic, and A.J. NHL hockey fights, brawls, scrums, roughs, hits,. I suspended him. At 32, Todd was younger than some of the players. AJ filled out the roster with a mix of has-beens and might-bes. Southeast Elite is proud to announce the Mathieu Garon with be an instrumental member of the Southeast Elite organization as a goaltender instructor. Mahfuz riad. They called back, and I said, Do you want to trade that one-eyed guy? His first game with us, he had [a goal and an assist]. "When we got him," A.J. It wasnt a crisis, but it was a drag. The closest team to Danbury, the Frostbite played in Glens Falls, New York, just three hours away by luxury coach. By the second round, they had nothing left. There was something else in the books too. Fresh shirts but in other corners the Galantesand the desperadoes on ice they brought to townare still recalled fondly ]! Of individualsas well as management! theyd tell you no one had ever given... 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