Rick Ley coached Hartford the same way he played - aggressive, hard-nosed and unrelenting. But the style that worked so well on the ice cost him his job behind the bench.
Ley was fired Wednesday as the Whalers coach because he and owner Richard Gordon couldn't get along."I think the people who've been around our club all year have a pretty good idea what was going on. I mean, I don't think it was a hidden fact. Everything was very uneasy around here," general manager Ed Johnston said. "It's obvious there's been a conflict, a difference between Mr. Ley and Mr. Gordon."
Johnston said he was pleased with Ley as coach and didn't want to fire him. Several weeks ago he gave Ley a vote of confidence, saying speculation Ley would be fired was a "dead issue."
But Johnston was unable to resolve the differences between coach and owner, so he fired Ley.
"I sat down with both Richard and Ricky and hoped we would get it resolved. But, unfortunately, it never worked out," Johnston said. "I think to let that continue would be unhealthy for our club."
Gordon was in France to attend the French Open tennis tournament. Ley did not return a message left by The Associated Press on his answering machine at his home.
Johnston said he had three people in mind as possible replacements, including Jimmy Roberts, who has coached Springfield to the American Hockey League titles the past two seasons, the second as the Whalers' top farm team.
"He's a strong candidate, there's no question. But I will be talking to a couple of people and we should have some kind of decision by the middle of next week," Johnston said.
Ley has one year left on his three-year contract. Johnston said he can either look for another job or stay with the Whalers in some capacity.
Johnston said Ley was surprised by the firing.
"I think it sort of caught him off-guard a little bit," Johnston said.
Several players had the same reaction.
"I'm shocked," left wing Pat Verbeek said. "I thought he was good for next season and how we played would dictate what would happen with Rick."