Would you want/welcome DeLuca back

[Ron 25]

I think Mark summed up my feelings regarding the drugs. I know marijuana is legal in Canada, but, as a professional athlete in a different country he had a duty to, at the very least, ensure that the drug was out of his system. On the playing side I feel that his subsequent ban, and the unexpected departure of Oleksuk left the team in a hole, and they never recovered from that, or the knock on effect it had on the rest of the team.
So I've voted no. He can pursue his career elsewhere, and we'll, hopefully, find a suitable replacement.

[paul johnston]

The actual (alleged) crime doesn't bother me per se. What bothers me is it left the club in the lurch and we struggled to get a like for like replacement.
His form pre removal from the team was horrendous-down on goal scoring, giving petulant daft penalties away, showing a terrible attitude on ice (was never ending with his bitching at the referee's) .

Is a no from me.

Looking at the team so far, if we had any of Connolly, Deluca, Ellerby (a good player who just fails to deliver at all to the level I see he can) and Brust, or several of them, I feel we will be battling for a third or fourth place. Unless of course they really up their game and performance levels and we pull some right rabbits out of the bag with a few of the remaining slots.

[jas]

I voted yes, but it would be providing he comes at a bargain price with something to prove. I have no issue with him smoking cannabis where it is legal as I believe it is not classed as a performance enhancing drug. Also the likes of Dowd seem to think he has something to offer the team which seems to be a reasonable reference.

[Robert Mansell]

2 points

1. Marijuana is on the banned list of substances fot professional athletes all over the world even Canada.

2. He has not yet been given a ban by the UKAD so where this 3 months in the off season comes from I don't know.

Here is the link to all currently suspended athletes in the uk for drug offences. You can filter it for various sports and for hockey there's only 2 listed from 2014 with an 18 month ban and an 8 year ban

https://www.ukad.org.uk/sanctions

Once an official investigation has been done by them then the ban will be listed there.

Why is the club along with the media pushing this narrative of available in September ?

[teeLIST]

I voted no.

I liked DeLuca. He's a character guy that can't be played down for his effort week in week out but unfortunately it's a results business and we need to look to improve in all areas to get those results.

[Joesteeler]

Anthony Deluca received a 3 month ban which started June 2022.

Ban ends in Sept.

Would Fox now be tempted to bring him in?

[Morpheous]

Anthony Deluca received a 3 month ban which started June 2022.

Ban ends in Sept.

Would Fox now be tempted to bring him in?

I wouldn’t start the season with him, but if we lose an import to injury or home sickness or whatever then I think we could bring him in…

[Jayboy]

I think bringing him in as a spare would work quite nicely.. Make it clear he is the spare, and pay him accordingly, make him take his chance when it comes along and that way he can prove his worth and have the motivation to move through the lines.. I think that could be the motivation a player like Deluca loves and that way the club can legitimately say they gave him a second chance to be in the club.. Win win

Jayboy

[Tom Moore]

No for me, I don't care what he took, I care that he was unprofessional enough to get caught and not warn the club beforehand. Also, don't recall he was playing well in the immediate run up.

[smbmetal]

It's still a no from me. Whilst I've no idea if he wants a return to the EIHL, if he does, would be interesting if any other EIHL team signs him.