WHL Head Coach Faces Indefinite Suspension for Assaulting a Player

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Pat Quinn
November 16, 2023 (8:12)

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The Swift Current Broncos are currently sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference after 20 games. The team has an 10-9-1 record with 72 goals for and 73 goals against. They are a real middle of the pack squad in the WHL.

The current allegations and what is going on in Swift Current

The Swift Current Broncos suspended head coach Devan Praught indefinitely due to an alleged violation of the Western Hockey League's standards of conduct, the team's General Manager, Chad Leslie, announced on Tuesday, November 14.

The violation involved an alleged on-ice altercation with a player during Monday's practice. According to reports, Praught got into a physical altercation with defenseman Josh Fluker who is 17. During the altercation Praught can be seen swinging his stick at Fluker on camera. The situation is presently being examined by the WHL Security Network and, likely, the WHL's governing board.

After acting as the team's interim coach following the departure of coach and general manager Dean Brockman in October 2021, Praught, 36, was named the team's head coach last year.

«The WHL and the Broncos are committed to holding players and staff to the highest standards of conduct both on and off the ice,» the Broncos said in the statement announcing Praught's suspension Tuesday.

Continuing on in Swift Current after the altercation

The Broncos' assistant coach Taras McEwen will step in to the role of interim head coach during Praught's suspension.

The WHL's dedication to upholding high standards is demonstrated by the fact that this is the second time this season that a coach faces punishment for violating the Code of Conduct.

The WHL and Swift Current Broncos will have no further comment on the investigation.

As Read On Hockey Unplugged - WHL Head Coach Is Suspended Indefinitely After Attacking His Player