GRANBY, Québec – Because the owners didn’t pay the $18,000 fine in November for not respecting the salary cap, the Pont-Rouge Lois Jeans has been removed from the Ligue nord-américaine de hockey.

That leaves the LNAH with only six teams.

The 2009-2010 season has been nothing but a nightmare for Pont-Rouge. There was the suspension for the entire season enacted against head coach Bobby Baril, all those games lost on the ice, the small crowds at the Joé-Juneau Arena and the conflicts with the LNAH.

Last spring, Pont-Rouge celebrated her return in the LNAH by winning the Futura Cup.

“We had no choice”, said LNAH commissioner Michel Godin in Québec’s Le Soleil daily paper. “On February 4^th, league’s governors decided that Pont-Rouge had to pay the fine by February 10^th. They didn’t, so they’re out.”

Pont-Rouge co-owner Benoit Ferland said other teams have debts to pay to the LNAH but are still playing.

With only 11 wins in 36 games, Pont-Rouge was last in the LNAH’s standing. 

With all six teams left having eight games to play, the LNAH had to refit the schedule.

Playoff format has been changed as well.  

Starting Marsh 12^th, all teams will make the playoffs.

The LNAH seems more fragile than ever. With attendance in free fall in every town, many people around the league are wondering. And a six team league just can’t afford to lose another franchise.

In a ProHockeyNews.com interview two weeks ago, commissioner Michel Godin said three groups from the Montréal area are interested to have a team in the LNAH.     

Contact Michel.Tasse@prohockeynews.,com