Post by RedWings on Dec 14, 2006 16:14:00 GMT -5
...and apparently no "JR" as well. Here's the story run by TSN this morning.
Jeremy Roenick's decision to walk out on the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night could have long term ramifications for his career in Arizona.
Roenick was scratched from Tuesday night's game against Vancouver for what was termed a back injury, despite the fact the veteran forward said he felt healthy enough to play. Rather than remain at the rink, Roenick elected to leave and ended up watching part of the game at a nearby restaurant while eating dinner.
The decision to abandon his teammates did not sit well with head coach Wayne Gretzky.
"I treat players like men and they should act like men," Gretzky tells the Arizona Republic. "JR, all and all, has been pretty positive. But the reality is, last night he made a mistake. There will be ramifications for what happened."
Gretzky says Roenick will not be in the lineup tonight against Columbus with Mike Ricci replacing him in the lineup. Asked when Roenick might be back in the lineup, Gretzky replied: "I'm not sure right now."
Roenick says he respects Gretzky's decision to bench him but feels he did nothing wrong by leaving the arena.
"I was at the game for part of the game and then I went for dinner," Roenick tells the newspaper. "I don't think there is anything wrong with going and having a nice dinner, having a beer and watching the hockey game. I don't know why everybody is trying to create a stir or create a controversy."
Roenick, who signed a one year deal with Phoenix worth $1.2-million this past summer, has just one goal in 28 games and has been scratched from four of the last six games. Even he admits the end of the line is closer than ever.
"End of the (NHL) year, absolutely (I'll retire)," he tells the East Valley Tribune.
"The way it seems to be going right now, I don't think anybody would want to give me another chance to tell you the truth."
"(But) I'm not going to retire in the middle of the year and quit on anybody."
Jeremy Roenick's decision to walk out on the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night could have long term ramifications for his career in Arizona.
Roenick was scratched from Tuesday night's game against Vancouver for what was termed a back injury, despite the fact the veteran forward said he felt healthy enough to play. Rather than remain at the rink, Roenick elected to leave and ended up watching part of the game at a nearby restaurant while eating dinner.
The decision to abandon his teammates did not sit well with head coach Wayne Gretzky.
"I treat players like men and they should act like men," Gretzky tells the Arizona Republic. "JR, all and all, has been pretty positive. But the reality is, last night he made a mistake. There will be ramifications for what happened."
Gretzky says Roenick will not be in the lineup tonight against Columbus with Mike Ricci replacing him in the lineup. Asked when Roenick might be back in the lineup, Gretzky replied: "I'm not sure right now."
Roenick says he respects Gretzky's decision to bench him but feels he did nothing wrong by leaving the arena.
"I was at the game for part of the game and then I went for dinner," Roenick tells the newspaper. "I don't think there is anything wrong with going and having a nice dinner, having a beer and watching the hockey game. I don't know why everybody is trying to create a stir or create a controversy."
Roenick, who signed a one year deal with Phoenix worth $1.2-million this past summer, has just one goal in 28 games and has been scratched from four of the last six games. Even he admits the end of the line is closer than ever.
"End of the (NHL) year, absolutely (I'll retire)," he tells the East Valley Tribune.
"The way it seems to be going right now, I don't think anybody would want to give me another chance to tell you the truth."
"(But) I'm not going to retire in the middle of the year and quit on anybody."
