Tavares camp moves "in new direction"

OAKVILLE -- Barbara Tavares insists Bryan Deasley was not fired.

At least not by Camp Tavares.

A story surfaced Tuesday morning that Oshawa Generals star John Tavares, and his family, had fired NHL player agent Bryan Deasley, who has served as their representation since entering the Ontario Hockey League.

But the story seems considerably more complex than a simple termination from player to agent.

"(Deasley) is no longer with Siskinds and we've decided to move in a new direction. It's incorrect to say we fired Bryan Deasley. We did not do that," says Barbara Tavares. "I was told that Bryan Deasley was no longer with Siskinds. That's what I was told. What happened I don't know, so we've decided to move in a new direction."

And that new direction, for now, remains within the family. Barbara will serve as John's agent/advisor for the foreseeable future.

"As of right now we don't have any representation in terms of having an agent," she said from the family's Oakville home on Tuesday. "I am just going to do what any other mother does for their kids. Whatever you want to call that, I don't know. It's not like as if there is anything that needs to be done right now in terms of legalities."

But that will soon change as Tavares gets set to enter his fourth OHL season, and one that will determine whether he indeed becomes the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

However, the family won't make a rush decision when it comes to any future representation, says the mother.

"We're taking our time in terms of which way we're going to go," Barbara claims.

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