Hockey Team Owners Need Lesson on Responsibility

Ask anyone who’s been to a doctor (i.e. anybody): you’re responsible for the bill if your insurance company for some reason doesn’t pay.  Indiana Ice doesn’t seem to get the concept:

1. The Indiana Ice hockey team and United States Hockey League sponsor a nearly-impossible-to-win $50,000 “hit the puck into the hole” contest.

2. Instead of putting prize money aside, they purchased insurance in case someone actually manages to win the prize.

3. A 73-year-old hockey fan is brought down to the ice and put into position alongside the mascot, who goes first. The fan vows to donate any winnings to charity. He then successfully hits the puck into the incredibly small hole on the opposite side of the rink. Click to watch:

4. The team’s insurance company denied the team’s claim because they did not position the fan in a certain location — contracted for between the team and its insurer. Specifically: they’d only cover contestants standing behind the red line.

5. The hockey team’s owners and the USHL throw their hands up: “Sorry! The insurance company won’t pay. There’s nothing more we can do.  No prize for you.”

6. The team doesn’t seem too upset about this: They refuse to name their insurance company, and also refuse to pay the promised prize money in full. Instead, “they plan to make a donation of an undisclosed amount.”

This story does appear to support the claim that wealthy corporations can break the rules that we as individuals cannot.