- David Frost (sports agent)
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David Frost Occupation NHL Players' Association agent David Frost, a.k.a. Jim McCauley, was a junior ice hockey coach and NHL Players' Association sports agent, best known as the alleged target of a murder-for-hire plot by one of his clients, former St. Louis Blues forward Mike Danton.
He is currently living in Laguna Niguel, California under the alias Jim McCauley working out of the Laguna Niguel Hockey Academy.[1]
On August 22, 2006 Frost was charged with 12 counts of sexual exploitation by the Ontario Provincial Police for crimes alleged during 1995–2001. The charges relate to his time as coach of the Quinte Hawks Junior hockey team and involve acts on three females and four males between the ages of 14 and 16.[2] Frost was found not guilty on those charges on November 29, 2008 after the judge in the case found "some testimony by government witnesses was simply not believable and he feared some of it had been tainted by collusion".[3] Steve Simmons, writing in The Toronto Sun, criticized the poor performance by the Crown prosecutors, who neglected to call several witnesses who would have likely bolstered the case against Frost.[4]
Contents
"Brampton Boys" regime
Frost got his start as a coach with the Toronto Young Nationals, an Atom club where he coached, among others, Mike Jefferson (who later changed his name to Mike Danton), Sheldon Keefe, and Joe Goodenow (son of then NHLPA Head Bob Goodenow).[5] He was banned from coaching in the Metro Toronto Hockey League following allegations he forged the signature of the club's general manager.[5] He then took his "Brampton Boys", including Danton and Keefe to the Quinte Hawks, a Metro Junior A Club based out of Deseronto, Ontario. He was suspended from the Hawks after he pled guilty to a charge he assaulted a Hawks player.[5]
Despite being suspended by Quinte, his Brampton Boys were drafted the following season, by Ontario Hockey League (OHL) teams; and Frost was known to frequently attend Sarnia Sting games to monitor the progress of Jefferson. As a result, Jefferson was dealt to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors (St. Mike's), where he was reunited with Sheldon Keefe, Ryan Barnes and Shawn Cation, who rounded out the rest of Frost's Brampton Boys. There were reports of conflict between Frost and the St. Mike's front office, and eventually all four of the Brampton Boys were traded to the Barrie Colts.[5] The Brampton Boys tenure in Barrie was seen as being controversial, as the four players were considered a distraction in the locker room and showed many examples of bizarre behavior on and off the ice. Ryan Barnes was suspended for 25 games, for a stick-swinging incident, while Shawn Cation was suspended for 15 games for his part in starting a line brawl.[6] A few other noteworthy incidents occurred during the 2000 OHL playoffs when team captain Sheldon Keefe intentionally refused to shake OHL commissioner David Branch's hand during the presentation of the J. Ross Robertson Cup. The erratic behavior of the Brampton Boys was again displayed during the 2000 Memorial Cup in Halifax, when the players led a walkout during a customary banquet[7] and again refusing to shake hands with CHL commissioner David Branch in ceremonial face-offs. A few noteworthy incidents involving the four boys were leading the team's refusal to stand in the customary lineup for the national anthem[8] and Jefferson calling out Rimouski Oceanic forward Brad Richards, by stating that no one would have heard of Richards if he didn't play in the QMJHL and he would not last five games in the OHL. The Colts reached the Memorial Cup championship game, where they were defeated 6-2 by the Oceanic and later refused to shake Richards' hand after he had been named tournament MVP. Jefferson, Keefe and head coach Bill Stewart also notoriously walked out of the Halifax Metro Centre without conducting any interviews to the media.[9] The behavior of the Colts, most notably the Brampton Boys drew the ire of many in hockey circles, citing their behavior perceived their team as coming across as being boorish oafs and sore losers. All four of the Brampton Boys did not return to the Colts the following season.
Frost vs the Jeffersons
David Frost first approached Danton's parents, Steve and Sue Jefferson, in 1991, successfully recruiting Mike for the Young Nationals.[5] The Jeffersons indicate that their son's recruiter, who later became his agent, wielded a growing influence over their son in the years that followed. As time passed, Frost's influence grew beyond the business of hockey.[citation needed] If Mike wasn't at school or playing hockey, Danton would spend most of his time with Frost. Steve Jefferson would go watch Danton play, but wasn't allowed contact with his son before or after the games.[citation needed]
In the summer of 2000, Mike's younger brother Tom Jefferson, then 13, was allowed to take part in a weekend retreat at Frost’s cottage in Kingston, attended also by his older brother Mike and other young hockey players.[5] Upon returning home, Tom was sullen and withdrawn. In June 2001, the parents provided Dr. Brian Shaw, a psychologist with the National Hockey League Players' Association, with photographs that had been taken that weekend, including one of Tom naked and bound to a bed with duct tape, and another with Frost pointing a rifle at the child.[10]
Shaw, as obligated by law, presented the evidence of child abuse to authorities, and an investigation ensued. Further details of that weekend emerged, including allegations that Tom was forced to eat pancakes that were spat on by Frost; he was shot at with a BB gun while hanging from a tree branch; and that he was ordered to dance naked atop a table for hours. Frost and five other witnesses dismissed the entire incident as a hazing ritual that had been young Tom's idea to start with, and the investigation was closed.[10]
Jefferson changed his name to Michael Sage Danton in 2002, a decision Frost said was made by the young player to separate himself from his family.[5] Danton subsequently claimed that the Jefferson family had abused Mike, that they lived in squalor and had abused drugs and alcohol.[11]
Though Danton made the National Hockey League (NHL), playing 87 games for the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, Frost retained almost complete control over the player. Frost required his permission for Danton to conduct interviews, and the player frequently asked Frost's opinion on many issues.[12] Following the 2003–04 NHL season, Danton was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after it was alleged he tried to hire a hit man to kill Frost.[5] Danton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 7½ years in prison, though he later alleged that it was his father he intended to kill, not Frost.[13] Danton's claims were disputed by the FBI and the alleged hitman, both of whom agreed that Frost was the target.[12]
Resignation
On 6 December 2005, the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) announced that Frost has resigned as an NHL player agent. Frost's resignation came shortly after the NHLPA launched an investigation into his certification shortly after the airing on CBC of Rogue Agent, a documentary looking into Frost's relationship with Mike Danton, and evidence of child abuse perpetrated against Danton's younger brother.
2007
On March 23, 2007 Frost was also charged with fraud, impersonation and breach of probation for allegedly trying to purchase nearly $90 in gasoline by using a credit card registered to Mike Danton. He was acquitted of all charges on February 14, 2009; Danton informed the court that Frost had permission to use his credit cards.[14]
2008
While out on bail awaiting trial on sexual exploitation charges, Frost had his bail conditions amended to allow him to leave Canada. He had intended to attend the Phoenix Coyotes training camp to monitor the progress of a minor-league prospect. However, the Coyotes General Manager indicated that Frost would not be allowed to attend.[15] Since being acquitted on sexual exploitation charges in November, Frost has launched a website designed to unleash secret stories about the NHL, closely guarded playbooks and advice for young players trying to make the big league.[3]
External links
- the fifth estate – Rogue Agent
- CBC uncovers further Danton-Frost intrigue, 29-11-2005
- David Frost resigns as NHL player agent
- "Puck Stop: The Bizarre World of Mike Danton" from Buffalo Weekly ArtVoice
References
- ^ The Hockey News, September 29, 2010: David Frost resurfaces as Jim McCauley at California hockey academy
- ^ "Ex-NHL agent David Frost arrested". CBC. August 22, 2006. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/08/22/david-frost-agent.html.
- ^ a b "I'm a hockey God: Dave Frost". Calgary Herald. November 29, 2008. http://www.calgaryherald.com/hockey+dave+frost/1013069/story.html.
- ^ The Toronto Sun, November 29, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Timeline:Mike Danton". The Fifth Estate. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/rogueagent/timeline.html. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
- ^ Sapurji: Barrie Colts -- my decade's most memorable
- ^ Bill Stewart Story
- ^ Further Adventures of the Hamburg Freezers — Wild Bill Stewart
- ^ "Hockey on trial as coach appeals suspension for throwing game". CBC Sports. November 10, 2000. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/05/30/hockey000530.html. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ^ a b "Former NHL agent David Frost -- Eventually Bad Things Happen to Bad People". Sports Business News. August 23, 2006. http://www.sportsbusinessnews.com/_news/news_349392.php. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ^ "Danton insists father was murder target". Rogers Sportsnet. 2009-11-10. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/11/10/danton_exclusive/. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
- ^ a b Friedman, Elliotte (2009-11-11). "Past dealings with Mike Danton". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/11/past_dealings_with_mike_danton.html. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
- ^ "Ex-NHLer Danton, convicted in plot to murder father, not Frost, gets full parole". Canadian Press. 2009-09-11. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090911/090911_danton_parole?hub=CP24Sports. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
- ^ Frost Acquitted of Impersonating Player National Post, February 14, 2009
- ^ "Coyotes warn David Frost". Sportsnet. September 5, 2008. http://www.sportsnet.ca/thewire/hockey/2008/09/05/frost_not_welcome_here.
Categories:- Canadian ice hockey coaches
- Living people
- People from Brampton
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