THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT THE FHL, 1000 Islands, And the Kirnans!

You are here for one reason and one reason only. You want the TRUTH.

In this blog you will find all of the information directly from Thousand Islands Privateers players (Current and Fired). You will also find proof all of the biased information being given by a league who's owner is one of the team owners father. You will see 100% proof of how this league is corrupt and how Nicole is running her team and lying about it. Current Players asked to remain annoymous to not receive retaliation based on the information given.

As we have been hearing all about this being like a scene from the movie "Slap Shot", Consider this a scene from "Days of our Lives"!

-Nicole Kirnan (Owner of the 1000 Islands Privateers Hockey Team) has repeatedly blamed her players, opposing teams, the league, and THE FANS for all of the problems within the Thousand Islands Organization. Nicole has been permitted to do what ever she likes within this league as her Father is the owner/Commissioner.  ‎"Kirnan Hall, daughter of FHL commissioner and founder Don Kirnan, is certainly no stranger to the North Country or the game of hockey.""Kirnan Hall completed a master’s degree in sports business management. It was the first step toward her goal of owning a hockey team. "

“I was really drawn to the business side of hockey because it is a very unique business and a niche business,” Kirnan Hall said.

"Kirnan Hall’s original focus for team ownership was in the junior ranks. Thanks to her father’s involvement with the Syracuse Stars and the Empire Junior Hockey League, she was able to gain a respect for the player development side of the game at that level. It wasn’t until her father decided to develop the idea of the FHL that she thought about owning a pro team."

“It’s really important for me that people know that I own the team,” she said. “It’s so much fun to work together (with her father) and not everyone gets that opportunity so I really do see it as a great opportunity.

Source:http://www.prohockeynews.com/hockey/publish/singlea/Privateers_invade_North_Country.shtml

First off: It all started with Nicole Kirnan forcing her players to make a trip to Danbury CT on Friday, January 13th, 2012 to play a hockey game that the players and bus driver did not want to travel in unsafe conditions and risk their lives. The following information comes directly from Current and Fired/Suspended players.

"Mike Richards and Vinny Geonnetti were fired on the spot and it took us 4-5 hours just to get to Syracuse, Interstate 81 was closed... there was cars in the ditch everywhere we were going 25 mph the whole way. The reason she foreced the driver and all of the players to go is so danbury would give her the money for the game she told us she would be fined and made up all this other nonsense if we didn't go... when we left the rink we came down the hill sideways and got stuck like 6 times between a bay and watertown"

Another player "took us what felt like forever to get to syracuse that day.. we couldnt get out of our arena parking lot.. slid down the driveway sideways and almost flipped just leaving. still she told us to continue to the game. we got stuck in 2 different gas station parking lots and our winshield wipers failed, making it next to impossible to see. Still she told us to continue. she truly didn't care what happened to us"

Here are the listed suspensions for the players not wanting to risk their lives:
1000 Islands 01/13/12 Geonnetti, Vinny (D) placed on team suspension
1000 Islands 01/15/12 Richard, Michael (RW) placed on team suspension

(Here is the Weather report from that day. 8" of snow with up to 41 mph winds. Consisting of Rain and Snow)

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSYR/2012/1/13/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Syracuse&req_state=NY&req_statename=New+York

She suspended 2 players for not wanting to risk their lives and then covered this all up with excuses. These players were later traded to get away from the T.I (Thousand Islands) Organization.

Below are photos from the players cell phones while on Interstate 81.

 

Secondly: On Friday February 3^rd 2012, T.I. Privateers Refuse to show up to play the Akwesansne Warriors on Cornwall Island at the Warriors home ice. This night the Warriors Organization was required to find players to play for the Privateers in order to put on a show fo the Fans. Nicole Kirnan later in a press release states that the players refused to go play against the Warriors.
(http://1000islandsprivateers.pointstreaksites.com/view/1000islandsprivateers/press-box/news-433/news_42503) All information can be read here. Once again Current and Fired/Suspended players state their side and say that this is not the case.

“We all as a team were told not to go to the game due to the league trying to stop the Warriors from playing the games they play. Once all players agreed there were a few players that went the other route and decided to go. Nicole told us that who ever refuses to go to the game will be fired and will be forced to have their stuff out of her house the next morning or they will be arrested”

(Here is the Box score from that game)
http://fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1662485

The following players are Warrior players who were forced to dress for the T.I. team in order for there to be a show/game for the fans. (Stacey, Mike -McCarthy, Kris, - Swamp, Kiawentonteh, -Sanford-Roy, Samuel,-McIntyre, Will) All of these players are on another team with out being waived by their current and active team and no Suspensions or fines resulted from this.

The Privateers Ex Coach Mark Lefebvre has been suspended indefinitely by the league and has been fined $5000 for his role in the situation.
“Even her coach, Marc Lefebvre, sided with the players, who felt Akwesasne played too dirty to warrant a game. The Warriors are currently on probation with the Federal Hockey League and another incident will result in expulsion from the league”

-This statement would later be said by the league to be false.

“It left Kirnan with a difficult choice: Allow those players to return to the team, quickly find others to fill the roster, or fold. She first chose to release all the boycotting players, and LeFebvre, from the team. Then, she hit the phones and hasn’t stopped.”

 These players were not all released as an Injured player by the name of Mathew Kinsella who could not make the trip due to injury was suspended by the team while being injured and the TI Organization refused to pay him or for the Proper Medical treatment.

The following statements are from Suspended T.I. Goalie Mathew Kinsella:
“I tried getting into physio when I got injured, but she didn't have the proper insurance so I was denied treatment.. I'm still dealing with this injury on my own dime in Toronto. When I refused to leave the house without my paycheck she told me I had a doctors appointment, so I figured it was to get checked to see if I was "faking" the injury or not I got into the Doctors office and had my blood pressure and all the basics checked, and then the Doc looked at me and said "To be honest with you, Nicole called me yesterday and wanted me to give you a drug test. Then he told me I had to take it that day, per terms of my contract. I never ended up taking it tho. I made a phone call to someone and I was advised not to take it, and I was told the Doctor giving me the test can't be our team’s doctor who she employs”

Mathew was held from being traded to another team to continue to play hockey as Nicole stated that she would not let him go anywhere after posting the things he did on facebook.

Next: On Friday March 2^nd 2012 the saga continued! While in the mix of all of the playoff seeding The T.I. Privateers show up to The Warriors arena without Captain Paul Kelly. After questioning the players on the bench the players where Paul Kelly is they responded with “He isn’t going to come over here and risk getting hurt for a game that we don’t want to win anyways” Which is the identical act that just prior resulted in players being suspended and traded. However with the Warriors up with score of 6-2 and the Privateers not giving any effort to compete in the game to place their seeding to not have to play the Warriors in playoffs the Warriors begin to give the Privateers a free pass to win the game which in turn set the Privateers players in a rage on the bench stating that “there is no sense in even coming out for the 3^rd” The Privateers Stated at the end of the game “Do not plan on seeing us tomorrow night” Referring to the game the following night set to play in Cornwall Ontario at the Ed Lumley Arena.

The Following Night: Fans for both teams fill the into the Ed Lumley Arena only to find that the Thousand Islands Privateers Refused to show up once again. Random players from local mens hockey leagues were brought in to play for the Privateers in order to once again put on a show for the Fans. One of the fans there to watch the game with his family was asked to come play as they did not have enough players to even play as a fake Privateers team. A Post was then posted on Facebook by Nicole Kirnan that She felt that it was in the best interest of her players and team to not send them into that atmosphere. This very same situation resulted in $5,000 in fines for Coach Marc Lefebvre and the suspension/Firing of the rest of the team just one month prior. Nicole was not fined nor were any suspensions handed out in her roll in not showing up to play against the Warriors on March 3^rd 2012! The following is the results from this game and the Made up roster of People from the crowd and people from the mens league.
( http://fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1876881 )

PLAYOFFS Game #1: Game 1 of the best of 3 series was held at the Warriors Arena on Cornwall Island. This time Privateers show up to the game with No players receiving any suspensions from the previous nights NO SHOW. The game goes into overtime with a tied score of 3-3. 60 Minutes of clean hockey and minimal penalty’s. 1:05 into the overtime period Paul Kelly receives a 2 minute Roughing minor and decides to argue his point with the officals with no further penalty for arguing the call. While on the power play the Warriors score at the 1:34 mark and win the game. After the goal horn has sounded Paul Kelly steams from the penalty boxes and charges for the Official and began to harass him. While involved in the altercation with the official Paul Kelly also makes comments and gestures towards the Warriors goalies. Paul Kelly would Receive (Abuse of Officials Game Misconduct), 10 min, 1:34 which would later be a 1 game suspension for Abusing the officials. Chase Tippen would step in to remove Kelly away from the Officials. Multiple players in the FHL prior have received multiple games for Abuse of the Official Misconducts.

The Following is Photos of Paul Kelly's altercation with the Officials after the final Goal.

PLAYOFFS Game #2: Now in Bonnie Castle arena for game #2. The First period finishes with (1) 2 minute minor Penalty to the Warriors and the first period score of 4-1 in favor of the Privateers. Period #2 would take an immediate twist as Warriors Pierre Dagenais (The FHL leading scorer) Receives the following penalties and a League suspension as a result of the incedent after the league said they reviewed their horrible quality video feed.

Akwesasne - Pierre Dagenais - (Head Contact Major), 5 min, 4:53
Akwesasne - Pierre Dagenais - (Head Contact Game Misconduct), 10 min, 4:53

Akwesasne  03/11/12  Dagenais, Pierre (RW) placed on league suspension 

As Pierre Dagenais crosses the center ice line he reaches out for the puck and as to avoid a collision with Privateer Player Williams he stands up to try to avoid contact at which time the two players collide and Williams sent to the ice and not getting up. Reviewing of the video shows that There was no Elbow to head contact was was stated for reasoning for suspension.

The Following are the Videos of the Hit that the league reviewed.

Playoffs Game#3: The final game of the Series hosted at Bonnie Castle arena. The First Period Ends with a both teams trading power plays back and forth finishing the period 1-1. The Second period The warriors come out and take the lead and the Privateers begin to take the roll of the Aggressor and Acumulate this  penaltys with one being another ABUSE OF OFFICALS misconduct that did not somehow result in a disqualification or suspension.
1000 Islands - Michael Jordan - (Hooking), 2 min, 8:40

1000 Islands - Jeremy Akeson - (Abuse of Officials Misconduct), 10 min, 11:20

1000 Islands - Miguel Delisle - (Hooking), 2 min, 11:26

1000 Islands - Adam McAllister - (Elbowing), 2 min, 19:43
The final above posted Penalty was a blatant elbow to the head of Warriors player Martin Beauln sending him into the end boards. Video will further breakdown the incident. The TI player was only give a 2 minute elbow penalty but the night prior Warriors Pierre Dagenais was given a league suspension for less of an attack.

The Following is the Elbow to the head of Martin Beauln by T.I. McAllister.

No further action was taken by the league on this vicious hit.
The second period would end at 3-2 In favor of the Privateers and a continued close game.

The Third period is where it all begins. A hard fought beging of the period would quickly turn into a brawl on ice. Players began to fight on the ice and the Crowd would begin to take matters into their own hands by throwing items onto the ice and at the benches and players!

With all of the fighting and the penaltys Privateers were issued only (2) 5 minute penaltys and no suspensions for the players seen clearly leaving the bench. They players seen throwing punch from the bench were also not issued any penaltys or supplementary actions.

This is the Issued penaltys from this Incedent:

1000 Islands - Michael Jordan - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
1000 Islands - Adam McAllister - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Mathieu Wathier - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Kris McCarthy - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Nicolas Corbeil - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Nicolas Corbeil - (Fighting (Stoppage) Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Ahmed Mahfouz - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Ahmed Mahfouz - (Fighting (Stoppage) Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Kiawentonteh Swamp - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Kiawentonteh Swamp - (Fighting (Stoppage) Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Simon Desormeaux - (Fighting (Instigator)), 2 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Simon Desormeaux - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Simon Desormeaux - (Leaving Players Bench Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Simon Desormeaux - (Fighting (Stoppage) Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Simon Desormeaux - (Leaving Players Bench Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Jean Rene` Forget - (Fighting (Instigator)), 2 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Jean Rene` Forget - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Jean Rene` Forget - (Leaving Players Bench Major), 5 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Jean Rene` Forget - (Fighting (Stoppage) Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55
Akwesasne - Jean Rene` Forget - (Leaving Players Bench Disqualification), 10 min, 13:55

THis is the supplementary suspension from the League:
Akwesasne  03/12/12  Corbeil, Nicolas (C) placed on league suspension for 2 games 
Akwesasne  03/12/12  Mahfouz, Ahmed (LW) placed on league suspension for 2 games 
Akwesasne  03/12/12  Roundpoint, Alex () placed on league suspension for 5 games 
Akwesasne  03/12/12  Desormeaux, Simon (D) placed on league suspension for 8 games 
Akwesasne  03/12/12  Forget, Jean Rene` (F) placed on league suspension for 5 games 
Akwesasne  03/12/12  Swamp, Kiawentonteh (LW) placed on league suspension for 2 games

While the game is in action a T.I. Fan comes forth and tells us that there is a Person underneath the bleachers across from where the fans are sitting video recording the fans zooming in on the them. The following is a Video of Dave Smolnycki FHL Public Relations and as he stated he is a"Friend" of the Kirnan Family.  He is seen here SPYING on fans in the Bonnie Castle arena and States that "Big Don" Kirnan had him do this!

Also seen here is a Woman who I was told by the other Security Gaurds is Nicole Kirnans personal "Body Guard" She was Seen and heard throughout the night telling multiple fans that she would injure them and also "Arrest" Them.

 Privateers Past and Present players have been subject to abuse and bullying aswell throughout the season. Players are permitted to stay at a location provided by the team. The players stay together in unsafe conditions at 18 Holland Street Alexandria Bay New York. The player have been forced to go without heat during cold winter months. The players have been subject to illegal Evictions by the same Security gaurds that Nicole employs for the games. Players were Illegal Forced from the house during winter months in result of not agreeing with Nicole.

Below are pictures of the Housing and the Flood from the heat being shut off and the pipes bursting.

"in camp there were like atleast 22 guys in the 14 rooms, guys sleeping on the couch during camp, she came in and shut off our heat at one point, so we had to get space heaters.. the kitchen was so cold when she shut off the heat that the pipes burst and flooded half of the house" A current player stated.

"one of the excuses for us not getting paid is because apparently we trashed the house. Not 1% true. Actually Paul kelly put 3 holes in the walls himself and pissed in one of the closets during training camp when he was drunk"
Below is a Video of former Privateer who moved on to a different league discribing his stay in this above mentioned house and his treatment.

Current and Prior players Asked that the Fans know that the players have been subjected to alot of this bullying for the reason that they did/do not agree with the Team owner being in a relationship with player/Captain Paul Kelly and stated that any actions or comments going against these two always resulted in retaliation.

------This is all Information that was sent to me from players and fans of the Privateers, FHL Officials, T.I. Privateers employees, and many more. Nicole has submitted letters and posts that have tried to continue to cover her tracks and when any of this information was posted on the Privateers Facebook page it was deleted and I was banned. I have spent Hours on the phone with Leaders from the FHL who have also agreed that they do not approve of the way things are being ran in T.I. Nicole continues to post articles about slander. Information with blatant proof is not slander IT IS THE TRUTH.

The FHL Execs and The Kirnan's continue to try to hide the facts that there is a 100% conflict of interest happening in this league and do everything in their power to keep it all hidden.

Thank You to all that have came forward and continue to come forward with the information and facts. Stand up for yourselves and do not let these people push you around!