There is good news however, two pieces of good news infact. That comes in the form of injured defenceman Paul Moran, who has returned to training following a 3 week layoff after sustaining a dislocated shoulder in pre-season action against the Sheffield Steelers. Moran will most likely be brought back into action earlier than expected after the departure of Bernier, who, wait for it this is the second piece of good news....is paying for his own flight back to North America. The Stingray owners Mike and Sue Pack must be delighted.
On a more serious note, with the subtraction of Bernier, a tough Stingrays side might, just might be able to sign a better player in his place. It remains to be seen, but the search for a replacement defenceman began immediately after Bernier handed in his notice today (Friday).
Of course this is not the first time the Rays have fallen foul to a CHL (Central Hockey League) player quitting the team after gaining match fitness in Europe with the Rays before returning to North America. Bernier follows in the, considerably larger and more skilled, footsteps of Craig Minard and Scott Wray. Two Stingray standouts and two players who returned to the minor leagues in the USA after a matter of weeks in the UK.
Bernier doing what he, apparently, did best
Stingrays co-owner Sue Pack had this to say to the Hull Daily Mail:
"Jon came into training and announced he'd got an AHL contract and that he'd booked his flight for Saturday and was flying home.""You put an awful lot of effort into getting guys in, so you are always disappointed. But experience has taught us that if players don't want to be here and want to leave then it's not worth wasting your breath over trying to persuade them to stay. Besides, when a guy says' I've booked a flight for tomorrow' it's pretty much a done deal."
