Official statement: HCB responds to Smith's allegations

SportNews reproduces the exact wording of the official press release from the HCB, published on September 26th.

Official press release from HCB Südtirol Alperia about Austin Smith: The HCB Südtirol Alperia is surprised, astonished and concerned to note the statements and statements made by its former player Austin Smith in the last few days and rejects them as unfounded and wrongly decided in every respect. He reserves the right to take action against all relevant authorities in order to protect his image and good reputation, as well as that of his employees.

The process is all the more regrettable because everything indicates that Mr. Austin Smith's reputation-damaging statements have their real reason for bonus claims that are currently still being examined, even though the HCB pays out all contractual salaries and bonuses - and significantly higher ones than in other player contracts has.

The HCB thanked Mr. Austin Smith for his contribution during the 2017/2018 season and wishes him all the best for the future. However, as already said, he cannot and does not want to accept his extremely damaging and hurtful statements and therefore responds as follows:

•Austin Smith was signed by the HCB for the 2017/2018 season after passing the mandatory medical check, as the club trusted his qualities as a goalscorer, although the HCB was aware at the time that the player was already in one previous season in Ravensburg (DEL2) had considerable interruptions in his competitive activities.

•The player first complained of feeling unwell on October 20.10.2017, XNUMX, after the game against the Vienna Capitals in Vienna, although no checks or other fouls against him or accidents could be detected during the game in question, not even through a detailed video analysis in fact, he subsequently no longer complained about symptoms, and certainly not about concussion symptoms; He traveled with the team from Vienna to Znojmo of his own volition, took part in the game against Znojmo the next day and scored a goal and an assist.

•It was only after the game on October 27.10.2017th, 12.01.2018 in Bolzano against Klagenfurt, in which he had scored two assists, that the player again complained of feeling unwell and from then on until January XNUMXth, XNUMX he no longer took part in competitive HCB games (see description below) .

•After the game on October 27.10.2017, XNUMX and the following day, the player was immediately examined by the HCB medical team, which revealed no clinical abnormalities.

•On October 29th and 31.10.2017st, XNUMX, the player complained of persistent malaise (“dizziness”), whereupon the medical team initiated a series of checks and specialist examinations, none of which produced any findings; As a precautionary measure, the immediate suspension of all sporting activities was ordered: -On November 04.11.2017th, XNUMX, during a check ordered by the HCB medical team in the Bolzano hospital, a break from competition of two weeks was confirmed; -On November 07.11.2017, XNUMX, a CT and an MRI were performed in a highly specialized, private facility, both with negative results; -A few days later an ENT visit was ordered, which again came back negative.

•Although clinical evidence of a concussion could not be established, the HCB medical team immediately and as a precaution applied the appropriate international protocols by prescribing absolute rest and the ban on the use of electronic devices for two weeks.

•At the end of November, Mr. Austin Smith, at his own request and with express permission, went to Canada to undergo a visit to a trusted person on November 26.11.2017, XNUMX, who then discovered the possibility of so-called “microconcussions”; However, as it turned out from the information subsequently received, he was not a doctor and certainly not a specialist.

•After a few days, Mr. Austin Smith returned from Canada with the recommendation to take another break of 8-10 days (the HCB medical team was already talking about at least two more weeks) and to undergo osteopathic treatment; However, at this point he declared that he wanted to return to the team soon.

•Despite all of this, the player - again with the permission of the HCB - was examined by a trusted specialist in Hanover, where the HCB medical team's prescription was confirmed but revised downwards by ordering a rest period of 8 - 10 days .

•The player continued to remain under the constant observation of the club's medical team, which gave him constant access to the Medical Center Quellenhof, a well-known medical facility with which an HCB doctor works, and where the player received repeated physiotherapy and osteopathic treatment and received massages; Blood and urine analyzes and repeated checks were also carried out using Frenzel glasses, with the above-mentioned doctor being available to the player practically 24 hours a day.

•From January 08.01.2018, XNUMX, the club provided the player with a personal osteopath/physiotherapist who was well-known and highly valued by the player, who accompanied him several times a week and subsequently even during some of the games he played from January onwards.

•The player expressed his wish several times, as early as the end of December, to be able to resume playing. However, the HCB medical team let him take a break until January 12.01.2018, XNUMX. That day, the player emphatically stated that he felt good and wanted to play.

•Totally unforeseen and without any indication other than unspecified indications of not feeling well, the player skipped the championship games scheduled for January 14th, 19th and 20th; The observation by the HCB medical team, the treatment by the personal osteopath and the treatments at the Medical Center Quellenhof continued.

•As a result, Austin Smith played again for the first time on January 26.01.2018, 1 (1 goal and 10 assist) and in the following 7 games in the qualifying round (2 goals and 2 assist). He played a further six games in the quarter-finals (3 goals and 1 assist), four of five semi-final games (1 goal and 1 assist - he did not play one of the games because he was not feeling well) and six of seven games in the final series (2 goal and 09.04.2018 assists - on one match day he did not present himself when the bus left for Salzburg and therefore also missed this game after he only announced at the last moment that he was not feeling well; during the final game on April XNUMXth In XNUMX in Salzburg, he remained in the dressing room after the second period - without having suffered any injuries or an accident - because he was in such an agitated state of mind that he no longer felt able to continue the game.

•Apparently Austin Smith had already made contact with another EBEL team in the meantime, with whom he subsequently signed a contract, which, as the media reported, has since been dissolved.

Finally, the HCB declares and affirms as follows: -no other HCB player has ever received such attention and medical/therapeutic assistance as Austin Smith, who, upon his departure from Bolzano, expressly thanked one of the HCB doctors for the care he received; -the HCB medical team has taken all appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures for Austin Smith (including in the case of an undiagnosed concussion) and prescribed longer rest periods than recommended by the international protocols and the player's external advisors; -the medical team never forced the patient to take medication; any claims made by the player to the contrary are untrue; On the contrary, the HCB attaches importance to the fact that during the contractually stipulated sports doctor's visit, the player concealed the previous use of pharmaceuticals that could be linked to the complaints later alleged; - the HCB respects the player's personal sphere and therefore limits itself to pointing out that in order to clarify his health status, serious previous illnesses must be taken into account and evaluated; -the club never forced the player Austin Smith to play, but on the contrary, as a precautionary measure, made him pause more often than indicated; The player was only allowed to play if he expressly felt able to do so.

The HCB can prove and document all of the facts and processes listed here and will protect and defend the reputation and honor of the association, its medical team and its employees with all available means.

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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Official statement: HCB responds to Smith's allegations

After Austin Smith's harsh accusations against his former club, HCB Südtirol Alperia responded with a press release.

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