The unforeseen reality of junior hockey

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Wheatland Kings defensemen Brennan Fuoco got promises from his former team, the Golden Rockets of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), that were never kept, which led to Brennan asking for a release from the team, which became an unfortunate situation.
To play in the KIJHL the fee is anywhere from $2,500 to $3,800, with room and board on top of that; comparatively, to play for the Wheatland Kings is $700. However, the Rockets wanted a $1,750 fee from the Kings for his release.
Brennan’s frustration began to mount at the beginning of the season when he had planned to go back and play his final junior season and work to make money. Golden had promised to pay his expenses, but he got injured a couple of weeks into the season and that’s where the playing time became tough.
“Starting to get back and playing was pretty tough,” said Brennan.
“My coach said I was quitting on them. It was really more shocking than anything to hear that from him. I was really frustrated more about that than anything really that the fact they promised me that I could play there at no cost or anything and they basically turn their backs on me and saying they won’t release me unless I pay the money.”
He considered all his options for his last year of junior hockey before pursuing educational opportunities next year and Strathmore was the place where he could have fun playing the game again.
He put it all into perspective this year in that he knew it was his last year of hockey before he takes off to school next year, and he considered his options as to where he wanted to have fun playing the game again this season.
“I kind of wanted to enjoy it more than get frustrated with the season we’ve been having,” he said.
“For the drive back to Calgary it was tough to take that they were asking and acting like that. I was just talking to my dad, family and girlfriend and just got over it.”
He added that there was no tension between him and Golden’s coach Jason Stephens in the process.
Brennan’s father and Wheatland Kings head coach Emilio Fuoco had consistent communication with him throughout the situation and shed some light on what Brennan was feeling at the time as well as the groundwork he did during the process.
“He approached the coach and said ‘I’m not having any fun. I want to go back home, I have a job back home and I want to finish my career playing with my dad in Strathmore,'” said Emilio.
“Was that a mistake, but that’s the truth and that’s what was said.”
Emilio then wrote a letter to Golden’s owner, Curt Thorne, stating how appreciative he was for everything the organization had done for Brennan’s release and what his intentions were.
“He responded fairly quickly,” he said.
“He said ‘I’m leaving it to Jason (head coach Stephens), that’s Jason’s responsibility and I have full confidence he’ll make the right decision for the team.'” said Emilio.
Stephens’ response to Emilio’s letter was how disappointed he was that Brennan quit on the team.
Stephens gave his thoughts on Fuoco’s situation prior his release.
“We understand that he quit our team and walked away,” said Stephens.
“We understand that our board of directors had given us direction as to what’s required because of past history with this player with fees and money.”
It was shortly after that that Kings manager Dale Peters took it upon himself to phone Stephens and it was then that Brennan was granted his release.
“We chatted for a bit and he told me his side of the story and of course when you have two sides you always have a difference,” said Peters.
“We talked about what was going to be gained by not releasing him and keeping him until Jan. 10. I think we came to a mutual agreement that nothing was to be gained and at that point he released him.”