The Dogs are back at it tonight as they try to snap a two game losing streak when they host the Coquitlam Express. They will be without their Captain and their Head Coach as well, as Trent Dorais serves the 2nd of his two game suspension for his hit that was deemed a Major Penalty for Checking from Behind on Kyle Kramer on Saturday night. Watching the replay of the hit it looks not like a check from behind, but instead a Boarding infraction off a blind-side hit. Of course the officials don't have benefit of replay during the game. The same can't be said of the League Office who reviews the hits of course.
Paul Esdale received word this morning that he has been given a one game suspension for his Gross Misconduct penalty received for throwing a water bottle Wednesday in Victoria.
You won't see anything under discipline on the BCHL website regarding either suspension, or at least I haven't seen anything and I have been checking since Wednesday. I haven't been checking for the Dorais verdict to come up - the Dogs told me Wednesday morning when I got to the rink that he was gone for two games - but because I have been checking to see if Nanaimo Clipper David Iacono will be suspended for his Major Penalty for Blow to the Head on his hit on Evan Tironese.
I am also curious to see if anyone from the Nanaimo side of the puck has picked up any discipline for the hit that concussed Yan Kalashnikov in the same game in question Saturday night. It was too fast to tell who threw the hit during the game, and the third period cuts off on the archive section of the BCHL Live Portal around the same time of the hit so I can't see it again. At first glance it seemed to me at the time that the player in question left his feet and launched himself high at the unsuspecting Kalashnikov, who was turned the other way to play the puck. As he turned, he was met with a flying player, and the at-the-time reigning BCHL Player of the Week ended up barely being able to make his way back to the bench on wobbly legs as he struggled to stay upright. I could be wrong - its a fast game and I only had the "live" look at the hit in question.
I don't intend to call any Clippers out here - I'm just attempting to get some answers and open up some discussions. The Dogs are without their Captain due to suspension on a hit deemed by the Linesmen during the game as a "hit from behind" and its somewhat hard to feel that justice is served when the night before when the same two teams met Dorais was planted from behind in the corner in Nanaimo, and didn't even draw a two minute penalty, better yet a give minute major and a two game suspension.
At the same time I wouldn't want to be the one handing down suspensions and making judgements - you can see with what Shanny has to try to do at the NHL level that it is a very very tough job.
Catch the pregame show tonight at 6:45 with the puck drop and play-by-play to follow at 7:00 with Ace and myself. Brandon Astle, the play-by-play voice of the Langley Rivermen will be our 2nd Intermission guest.
To fill the void left by Dorais and Yan Kalashnikov, the Dogs have inserted Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Product Dylan Haugen into the line up as he will make his BCHL and Bulldog Debut. Haugen plays with the VIJHL's Oceanside Generals.
Also don't forget to check out the Van Isle Ford Midget Bulldogs tournament at the Multiplex all weekend with their first game at 3:05pm today in the big rink. Follow the results and the tournament sked HERE
And between games or between periods why not walk next door and check out the 2nd Annual Lem Wong Invitational Basketball tournament going at the Athletic Hall! Proceeds to Kidsport!
Hammer
No comments:
Post a Comment