The Halifax Mooseheads are reviewing their options after the International Ice Hockey Federation denied their transfer of Martin Frk from the Czech Republic Friday.
The IIHF ruled the third overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League import draft has a valid and binding contract with HC Karlovy Vary, making it increasingly less likely Frk will ever play for the Mooseheads.
“Today was not positive for us, obviously,” Mooseheads majority owner Bobby Smith said Friday.
Smith said he can appeal the ruling to the IIHF if he has “new evidence” to present, and he has a law firm in Prague “taking a look at some different angles.” If that fails, he can appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Perhaps the most realistic option is to negotiate Frk’s release directly with Karlovy Vary. But Smith said Karlovy Vary general manager Miroslav Vanek hasn’t “been open to any kind of negotiation” to date.
“The player and his family want him to be playing in Halifax,” Smith said.
“We’ll see what happens next.”
