
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 4, 1994                   TAG: 9403040216
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BOSTON                                LENGTH: Short

NHL UNION FOUNDER INDICTED

Alan Eagleson, founder of the NHL players' union, was charged Thursday with spending millions of dollars in union funds on loans to friends, golf trips, ballet tickets and other personal expenses.

Eagleson, who also was an agent for many NHL players, including former Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr, was named in a 32-count federal indictment charging him with racketeering, embezzlement and fraud.

"It is alleged that Mr. Eagleson used his position as executive director of the union and chief negotiator for various National Hockey League players for the purpose of acquiring personal wealth and profits," said U.S. Attorney Donald Stern.

According to the indictment, Eagleson used at least $250,000 in NHL Players' Association funds for personal entertainment. He also allegedly appropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars in airline ticket vouchers that belonged to the union. He is accused of converting union assets to make millions of dollars in private mortgages to friends and taking $100,000 in kickbacks from insurance companies who wanted to get policies with NHL players.

For allegedly concealing his activities, Eagleson is charged with mail fraud. And for allegedly intimidating one grand jury witness and having another witness destroy evidence against him, Eagleson is charged with obstruction of justice. The indictment also says Eagleson misappropriated funds from hockey tournaments.

by CNB