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Phoenix angry at manner of Lind exit

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Manchester Phoenix have today lost the services of defenceman Eric Lind who returned to North America this morning to pursue his career in the East Coast Hockey League.

Head Coach Rick Brebant commented, “Eric came to me a couple of weeks ago and told me that he had been contacted by the Greenville Grrrowl, his former club, and that he wished to take up their offer. As we’ve said previously, if a player is unhappy or receives what he considers to be a better offer from elsewhere, we will not stand in their way and reluctantly, we agreed to his leaving.”

Brebant continued, “Eric and I agreed that he would stay until this weekends games had been played and then he would leave with our best wishes and thanks for his efforts in a Phoenix uniform. However, upon getting on the bus for the ride home from Milton Keynes last night, Eric advised me that he would be leaving this morning ahead of the tonight’s game against Sheffield. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement of monumental proportions.”

Lind’s departure meant that the Phoenix went into tonight’s game with only three recognised defencemen and a need to change line combinations in order to plug the gaps at the back.

Brebant shook his head as he continued, “I thought we had an agreement with him, and I thought he would honour it. As a club, we have done our utmost to make our players comfortable in Manchester and I believe we have looked after them as well as any other club in the Elite League has looked after their players. Eric has shown disrespect to the club, the fans, and his team-mates by his actions over the course of the last 24 hours – even his agent was unaware of the original contact from Greenville and knows nothing of the manner of his exit.”

Player Profile

• Profile for Eric Lind