| TORONTO -
World Hockey Association trustees disbanded the Ottawa Civics' franchise Saturday, but
said negotiations would continue with the Ottawa Flounders Club to place a WHA team in
that city. Th league announced, following a 2 1/2 hour emergency meeting, that the Civics
had "formally ceased operations" and that all players, with the exception of
seven previously involved in trade negotiations with the other WHA teams, would be free
agents. Ben Hatskin, the WHA's chief executive officer, said
the league would not have a draft of the Ottawa players, thereby freeing them of all
previous contractual arrangements and allowing them to work out their own deals with any
club. A league spokesman said the WHA schedule would be revised in the next four of five
days. Ivan Mullinex, who bought the Denver Spurs franchise into the league this season,
sat his team founder under spiraling costs and lack of fan support, then moved the
operation to Ottawa two weeks ago said : "I am releasing all remaining players on the
Ottawa player list and they will be notified by registered mail that they are now free
agents.
Mullinex was unable to reach a suitable agreement of sale with the
Founders Club this week and cancelled the team's flight to San Diego where they were to
meet the Mariners Saturday night. Mullinex had said Tuesday, at the WHA All-Star Game in
Cleveland, that negotiations with prospective buyers in the Canadian capital, were
proceeding favorably. That night, the Ottawa owner traded seven of his top players. The
only trade approved sent veteran Ralph Backstrom to the New England Whalers. It
consummated negations that had been under way for several weeks, according to a WHA
spokesman. |
