From http://www.americanprohockey.com/2009/10/pharaohs-yeti-suspend-operations-due-to.html
Stirling Wright turned 40 last Saturday night, he did not have a party, or a cake, or even a cigar. He was not feeling good and did not even attend his son's hockey game. The next day he found himself admitted to the hospital. A week later he was recovering from the 2nd major heart surgery in just two days. Not the best of situations for anybody, much less the man behind two new hockey teams in a brand new league.
Like most recovering cardiac patients, the doctors (and Mrs. Wright) are requiring a drastic reduction in activity and stress. With his medical condition in mind, and his wife holding the sledgehammer, Wright was forced to remove himself from his North East Professional Hockey League commitments. Wright suggested to the other NEPHL owners that it may be best to put the entire league on hold to build a stronger foundation, and come back for 2010-2011. The remaining teams have currently decided against that and are pushing forward for a November start. Wright even offered to hand over his franchises and commitments to help the league remain active. He is still in talks with others that have shown an interest but he can only do so much in his current condition. The NEPHL started as the blue print that Wright and NEPHL President Kirk McDonough had laid out. As with any blueprint there are changes but no one saw this change coming. "I have done what I can to help the other owners in the NEPHL but will not let pride get in the way of my health." "I wake up each morning just glad to be alive."
For now, the Pharaohs and Yeti appear to be just two more casualties in the long line of "A" Level Professional Hockey franchises to fall by the wayside. " I had an operation for each team." Wright said today that he is leaving the door open for a return to the NEPHL, or perhaps, another league at an entirely different level of play, "I'll keep an open mind, because I really believe in those markets," Wright said. "I'm lucky to be alive, and as a founding member of the NEPHL, I'll do what I can to help, but my health and family have to come first," wright added.
I'd have to agree with that choice.
