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Published on: 5/1/2008
Last Visited: 5/2/2008
"The intent of the process was to ensure that teams had a comfort level, regardless of the stated intentions of a player, (to) select that player," said Ted Baker, OHL vice president."If that player chose not to play in our league or report to that particular team, (the team) would receive adequate compensation for having stepped up and taken a player in the (draft) position that he should have been taken."
League officials didn't implement the rule "to create any more movement of players," Baker said.But he understands these scenarios could occur.The process has safeguards, Baker said, such as players needing a substantiated reason for choosing not to report.
The league's Board of Governors could alter these rules if indications of abuse by clubs are found.But Baker remains confident the new rules will work.Besides, Baker said, the past two drafts produced only two defected first-round picks - defensemen Cam Fowler (Kitchener) and Beau Schmitz (Plymouth) in 2007.