Pensacola Ice Flyers head coach Jeff Bes has been suspended for five games by the SPHL and fined an undisclosed amount for a “violation of league roster rules” according to a statement released from the league.
Bes, who is in his first season and has the Ice Flyers off to a 4-0 start, was not behind the bench in Thursday night’s game at Huntsville.
He will also be suspended for Friday and Saturday night games against Fayetteville, the team he coached the last two seasons, as well as two games next week against Mississippi and Huntsville.
He will be eligible to return to the bench on Wednesday, November 22 against Macon in Pensacola. Bes traveled with the team to Huntsville. He is allowed by league rules to travel, supervise practices and meet with players.
In his absence, Rich Parent, 44, a Montreal native and former NHL goaltender, who lives in Pensacola and has been around the team last year, will be handling game night duties.
Parent joined with former Ice Flyers coach Rod Aldoff on home games in the final two months of last season when Aldoff returned.
Parent, who played for the PIttsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay LIghtning and St. Louis Blues during his career, attended the Ice Flyers’ only prior home game, but was not behind the bench with Bes. He has not been on the ice this season with the team at any practice.
“The rule just applies to be behind the bench at games,” said Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris, when reached Thursday night for further comment. “The length of suspension was built into the rule. Any violation of this nature is an automatic five games.
“It was agreed upon by the owners at the summer governors’ meetings.”
