from Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald,

In the wake of a lawsuit, by which 10 former NHL-ers claimed the league hid information that would have prevented ongoing head trauma, (Scott) Parker said in a recent interview with the Denver Post that he was the subject to bullying by coaches who threatened his roster spot if he stopped sacrificing his body.

He directed his harshest criticism at Hartley.

“He was a junior B goalie trying to tell me how to fight,” Parker told the Denver Post. “He was always just degrading me. Not to be a (wimp), but he was a bully. And he could be because he was in a position of authority. What was I supposed to do as a rookie? Go tell him ‘(expletive) you’? I did that stuff at the end of my career, but at the beginning of my career I was just a chess piece to him.”

Hartley was quick to defend himself when asked about Parker’s comments Tuesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

“I was made aware of that report long ago,” said Hartley who won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche and spent nearly five seasons at the helm from 1998-99 to 2002-03. “All coaches, but I’ll speak for myself because my name is there, we set expectations. We create standards. There’s not a player I’ve coached that I didn’t try to make better. I’ve never bullied anyone.

“I can be a demanding coach. But I want the best for my players. For me, that’s the end of the story.”

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