In the May 12, 1986, issue of Sports Illustrated, an article was published alleging more problems with the off-ice activities of the Oilers. The article, written by Armen Keteyian and Donald Ramsay, suggested five team members had "substantial" cocaine problems. Citing sources from around the NHL and from the RCMP's Edmonton Drug Unit, alleges rampant drug use within the team, a high-pressure citywide environment that put immense pressure on players, and a culture of ensuring the players' drinking problems remained under wraps. The financial problems of certain players were also brought up, most notably those of Grant Fuhr.The Joyless End Of A Joyride, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064809/1/index.htm The Hockey News ran a responding article in which Sather called the allegations innuendo. NHL President John Ziegler and NHL Players' Association President Alan Eagleson dismissed the story as "McCarthyism".Messier, p.86, DoubleDay Canada, Toronto, Sports Illustrated stood by its story; suddenly, the Oilers' organization had an image problem to fight. After already being tarnished by the Messier and Hunter episodes in the last year, they were now widely suspected of rampant drug use.
