Former NHLer caught in Asia league money armwrestle

A former third-round pick by the Nashville Predators, Ryan Thang spent the last season playing in South Korea for the High1 of the Asia League Ice Hockey. After torching the competition with 72 points in 48 games, Thang earned a new contract for the 2015-2016 season.

The only problem is, High1 now wants him gone from the team.

“I did not report to training camp because I was informed by High1 that they want me to terminate my end of the contract. I was given absolutely no reason. I personally had an unbelievable year for them statistically, and I led High1 in playoff points and helped them to their first ever playoff series win", said Thang to Sportsnet.

“High1 did make a strong effort to make me feel bad about wanting to uphold the contract, and several times informed me that there would be ‘No more High1 hockey team’ if a buyout/contract settlement were to occur, and that I should be a nice guy and just cancel my end of the contract.”

Thang played one game for the Predators in 2011-2012 before heading to Europe where he played in Germany, Sweden and Finland. Even though he was reluctant to go play in Asia when he was first contacted by High1, the possibility of playing for the South Korean team at the 2018 Olympics lured him over according to Sportsnet.

“Select players are being given the opportunity to receive temporary Korean passports,” Thang explains. “I came to High1 because I was told that I was top priority to receive one, but I never officially had a guarantee from (national team coach) Jim Paek. I did have some encouraging conversations with the Korean Olympic hockey staff and if I was allowed to return to High1 this season, then I would have had my two years of playing in Korea, and I would have been able to pursue a Korean passport if Jim Paek and his staff needed another forward who has played in or against almost every top league in the world", said Thang according to Sportsnet.

Thang recently tweeted a picture of his contract, tagging the IIHF and his team in it, stating the team is "breaking contracts, promises and handshakes before the Olympics".

@IIHFHockey brutal truth behind @HIGH1_KR, breaks contracts, promises and handshakes before Olympics pic.twitter.com/GrjtoOnIlx

— ryan thang (@tanger09) August 21, 2015

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Image courtesy of Keystone Press Agency