Friday, April 17, 1998 | 6:19 a.m.
Petr Nedved, the NHL holdout who had signed a contract with the Las Vegas Thunder April 6, today was ruled ineligible for the International Hockey League playoffs by independent arbitrator Norman Brand of San Francisco.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' holdout, a two-time NHL all-star, used a temporary court injunction to appear in three regular-season games with the Thunder. But today's decision means Las Vegas will be without a major cog in its playoff machine when the Western Conference quarterfinals get under way Friday night at Long Beach against the Ice Dogs.
"The League is gratified that our constitution and players' guidelines were upheld," IHL commissioner Bob Ufer, who represented the league in Tuesday's arbitration meeting here, said in a statement.
"Now we wish to put this behind us and move forward together as a league. In the future, we hope such disputes can be resolved without resorting to the courts or other third parties."
Naturally, Thunder officials were disappointed upon learning of the decision.
"We wouldn't have pursued this if we didn't think he was eligible," Thunder general manager Bob Strumm said. "The arbitrator didn't really rule on his eligibility. He more or less ruled on the commission's right to make those decisions.
"We just have to go ahead and win without him. We played most of the season without him. What else can you say?"
The Thunder will not appeal the decision.
Nedved, who was practicing with the Thunder when the arbitrator's decision was learned, is expected to return to his home in the Czech Republic this weekend.
IHL rules preclude prohibit a player who has performed for a non-North American hockey team to join an IHL club after Feb. 2. The rule is designed to prevent IHL teams from "loading up" for the playoffs with European players after their clubs are finished playing, and from those players taking the spots of players who had spent the entire season with an IHL team.
The Thunder challenged the rule, contending that because Nedved was not paid by the European clubs for which he played a handful of games this year, he was not bound by the Feb. 2 rule.
Back in November, Nedved played four games for TJ Novy Jirin -- a third tier Czech team. Subsequently, arbitrator John Sands ruled that because the seven-year NHL veteran was not compensated, he could return to the NHL without first clearing waivers that apply to players from non-North American teams.
The Thunder viewed that decision as precedent for signing Nedved, who played six games for another Czech team, Sparta Prague, last month.
Nedved had three goals and three assists in his three-game Las Vegas stint.
Nedved's absence aside, the Thunder's goal heading into Friday's 7 p.m. playoff opener at Long Beach remains the same -- to get a split on the road.
Game 2 will take place at the Long Beach Ice Arena at 4 p.m Sunday. The series comes to the Thomas & Mack Center April 24 and, if necessary, April 25. If a decisive Game 5 is required, it will happen in Long Beach April 27.
"In a short series," Thunder head coach Clint Malarchuk said, "the first game is very important. We gotta come out of Long Beach at least with a split. That's what our goal is.
"The first game is a big one."
Splitting the first two games in Long Beach would take the home-ice advantage from the Ice Dogs, who won the Huber Trophy as the IHL's regular-season champion.
John Van Boxmeer, who guided the Ice Dogs to a 53-20-9 record this season, said the visiting team always comes in just looking for a split. He added that the first few games of the postseason are prime opportunities for underdogs to pounce, even the 33-39-10 Thunder.
"The early rounds are even more difficult than the later rounds," Van Boxmeer said. "As the playoffs go on, the playoff mentality grows. But in the early going it's hard to go from your season ending to the playoffs.
"You automatically want to kick it up a notch, but it doesn't always happen."
Thunderbolts
* LOOSE PUCKS: Las Vegas did not beat Long Beach in regulation all season, going 2-11-1. The Ice Dogs averaged 4.3 goals to the Thunder's 2.1. ... In four games against the Ice Dogs, Thunder goaltender Manny Legace is 0-3-0 with a 6.21 goals-against average and a .862 save percentage. Counterpart Kay Whitmore went 8-0-0 with a 2.25 GAA and a .904 save percentage. ... Ice Dogs left wing Patrik Augusta recorded eight goals and nine assists against the Thunder. Lefebvre had five goals and 10 assists. ... The Thunder leaves for Long Beach tonight.
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