The OHL has suspended Liambas for the rest of the season and playoffs for his hit on Fanelli last week. The result of the hit was devestating, but I don't think that the kid deserved be be suspended for the whole season. Sure the kid didn't add a lot to the Otters team and can probably be easily replaced, but the hit was clean and I don't think that the he deserved to be suspended for as long as he has been.It seems like the powers that be are penalizing the result and not the cause. What do you guys think?
Posted on 11/6 9:52 AM | IP: 142.142.123.174
Well quite frankly I think that penalties such as these should be based upon the result.....especially at the junior level.
I am a soccer referee and it reminds me of the argument I hear all the time. "But I got the ball first, not the player...." And yes the player might have gotten the ball first but if the result of the tackle, is that you take a guy out or break the guys leg it is foul, regardless of whether the tackle was clean. I am obviously talking about an in-game situation (foul) vs a suspension, but still feel that a player is responsible for his actions on the field (or ice.) Dont do the crime if you wont do the time.....
Back to the actual incident. I think a season long penalty is very warranted. They offender was an overage player (ie 20), and inflicted upon his 16 yo victim, a fractured skull, a broken orbital bone and other related injuries....I referee both of those age groups and there typically is a huge difference between a 16YO and a 20YO player ....in reading this a little more I think that Fanelli's days as a hockey player are over; this hit also probably changed his quality of life which in my mind reiterates the meted punishment.
Those are my thoughts.....
This post was edited on 11/6 10:15 AM by Shark Attack
Posted on 11/6 10:09 AM | IP: 192.146.217.50
Ok, it was a horrible hit. But, if it was the NHL and a star cheap shot like Richards putting that hit on a no name guy from a small market team, who gives a crap, right?
Posted on 11/6 11:42 AM | IP: 98.77.176.5
Pierre McGuire had an interesting take on the suspension...
He thinks the OHL is worried that hits like this one will cause more players to go the College route rather than Canadian Major Junior where 16 and 17 year olds are facing 19 and 20 year olds, so he is trying to send a strong message with the suspension...
Take care...
Posted on 11/6 1:01 PM | IP: 96.54.68.50
...but my point is that if a guy was penalized or suspended for a hit like this and the guy hit isn't hurt, wouldn't it prevent a hit like this causing a guy to get hurt? I wonder if Fanelli's helmet was on property, I couldn't believe how it flew off his head. There is a big difference between 16yr olds and 20yr olds, but how do you fix that? At least with the rules the way they are now. I've long been a supporter of not drafting players to the NHL at 18yrs of age...that way things could back up and a 16yr old could be playing midget AAA at home with his parents instead of busing all over the province and living with billets.
Latest Team Rankings
Mobile
