A modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Well, without the cool car, machine guns, custom suits, and high speed car chases that is. But, there is still hope for the car chase before this all ends.
The USPHL is getting rid of the Reaves Syndicate. The Casper Warbirds have been taken from them and the Woodstock Slammers are next on the slate. New ownership is expected for both teams in the next few days. And it could not come too soon.
The players, parents, billet families, arena managers, coaches and the league have been put through enough for the last four months.
Reaves? A con extrordinaire. While the dollars may not be the same, he would make Bernie Madoff very proud of how he operated his ponzi scheme.
The very elaborate real estate scheme coming from short term office leases, and little used LLC’s created to convince community leaders, and the USPHL of his enormous wealth. All of it nothing more than a smoke screen to obtain the ability to operate multiple teams across the United States and Canada.
A scheme to become a hockey business giant with absolutely zero hockey business experience. Lies so big that some people had to believe them because no one could ever make these things up. Someone who sold the sizzle but never delivered the steak.
The scheme started unraveling in January of 2025 when Reaves bosted he would build a new arena in Casper. That set city officials in motion to revoke his lease at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Then, when Reaves paid his arrears on rent, the city relented and allowed him back in the building. That is until he was late paying again and they kicked out the team temporarily.
In comes the league, and gets the team back in the building. All the while Reaves claiming he will file suit and spouting his mouth to anyone who would listen.
After nearly a month of absolute gong show behavior, Reaves is done in Casper.
Woodstock has not been much better. Bills are not being paid, and frankly the team is an absolute disaster. A roster made up of players who should be playing U18 AAA and not junior hockey cannot score goals and cannot stop the puck.
A highly respected coach being forced to play a roster of players who are nowhere close to being junior ready cannot make moves to improve his team. A 1-14-2 record would normally light a fire under ownership to make changes but no one will send players to help when the owners are Chris and Rhea Reaves. That and bills in Woodstock not being paid isnt helping.
Lets review the carnage:
Bold City Batalion – Premier and Elite
Burlington Beavers – Premier, Elite and U18
Evansville Mariners – Premier, Elite and U18
Dells Ducks – Premier, Elite and U18
Casper Warbirds – NCDC and Premier
Presque Isle Frontiers – NCDC and U18
Next up the Woodstock Slammers to be removed from their control. Of the thirty two pay to play programs going dark this season, Chris and Rhea Reaves are responsible for thirteen. They are responsible for destroying two NCDC markets that now have to be repaired and rebuilt.
Now with FBI Agents and other local law enforcement investigating Chris and Rhea Reaves, they are about to find out that the scheme of hiding behind multiple LLC’s is not going to protect them. Oh, and dont think the IRS and Canadian revenue departments arent investigating either.
By our count there aere likely two hundred or so victims. Thats not just an oops I screwed up. Thats a prepare yourself for a body cavity search.
