Laying Down the Law

OK who honestly can say they believe the NHL means it in getting serious about discipline after they claimed they could not tell what Wayne Simmond called the New York Ranger's Sean Avery? The NHL claims that they could not confirm exactly what Simmonds said; even better is that Simmonds goes from repeatedly claiming that he could not remember what he said to a flat out denial.

Let us be real here for a second as had the roles been reversed and Sean Avery had used a slur based on Simmond's color then Avery would have been hit with a long suspension as a repeat NHL potty mouth offender.

It is hard to take the NHL seriously when they have several different standards when it comes to handing out punishment. Punishment has as much to do with who the victim is as it does who the player is.

When we see someone like a Crosby given a suspension for anything like say a sucker punch to the groin then maybe we will believe there is NHL justice. We are not holding our breath.

Which brings us to a rather interesting email we got from the OHL the other day regarding punishment being handed out to 3 different players. It was very much a first from us as here is the email

OHL Announces Disciplinary Action

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of three separate disciplinary reviews. The league has taken the position, that for education purposes, any announcement regarding supplementary discipline will be supported by video footage and additional rationale for all incidents involving checking to the head, checking from behind, and others at the discretion of the league.

Player Dalton Smith – Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which occurred in a game played in Ottawa on the 23rd of September, 2011, involving the 67’s and the visiting Belleville Bulls Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a 5 minute major for charging and a game misconduct to player Dalton Smith of the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club.

Based on such review, it is the position of the League that player Dalton Smith shall be suspended for ten (10) games effective immediately.

Click here to see video and rationale of the Dalton Smith suspension.

Player Brock McGinn – Guelph Storm Hockey Club

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which occurred in a game played in Guelph on the 23rd of September, 2011, involving the Storm and the visiting Owen Sound Attack Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a 5 minute major and game misconduct for checking from behind to player Brock McGinn of the Guelph Storm Hockey Club.

Based on such review, it is the position of the League that player Brock McGinn shall be suspended for six (6) games effective immediately.

Click here to see video and rationale of the Brock McGinn suspension.

Player Scott Sabourin – Oshawa Generals Hockey Club

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which occurred in a game played in Kingston on the 23rd of September, 2011, involving the Frontenacs and the visiting Oshawa Generals Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a 5 minute major and game misconduct for checking to the head to player Scott Sabourin of the Oshawa Generals Hockey Club.

Based on such review, it is the position of the League that player Scott Sabourin shall be suspended for twelve (12) games effective immediately.

Click here to see video and rationale of the Scott Sabourin suspension.

You know what stands out is when you watch the videos? That the players know right away they did something wrong  They all turn waiting for the expected penalty/fight to happen.

Kudos to the OHL for breaking down exactly why the play was called and the rationale behind the punishment. When you do it exactly as the OHL does then it makes it harder to come back and second guess them on their actions.

We dare the NHL to use a system like this one when handing out discipline to their players.

Or this one which came to our attention via our friend Gregg Drinnan over at Taking Note

You may recall that just last week the BCHL suspended F Logan Johnston of the Penticton Vees for 20 games after a cross-check broke an opponent’s jaw. Well, it seems the Vees appealed the suspension. Not only did the Vees lose the suspension, but the BCHL’s appeals committee — an independent body that comprises three former police officers — added five games to the suspension, turning it into a 25-game sentence.

You know we will never ever see anything like that in the NHL.

Game Action

Michael St. Croix (NYR 2011 4th) was the only prospect in action on Wednesday night notching his 1st goal and 1st assist of the season to lead his Edmonton Oil Kings to a 4-1 win over the host Prince Albert Raiders.

St. Croix earned himself the second star of the game after setting up Edmonton's 2nd goal of the game at 15:25 of the first period. That goal proved to be the game winner as Edmonton won their first game of the season.

The Oil Kings scored 3 goals in the first period as they never trailed in this one. St. Croix scored his goal at 8:01 of the 3rd period to put the Oil Kings up 4-0.

St. Croix also was a +3 for the evening as well as took a tripping minor late in the 3rd period which did not hurt the Oil Kings.

(OHL logo courtesy of the OHL, St. Croix courtesy of the Edmonton Oil Kings)