From CHL Commissioner Duane Lewis:
``The discipline to players does not always match the length of time the player is injured, in any league. The issue here is that the player violated Rule 48 with primary contact to the head in a lateral/blindside check, and it clearly caused injury and received an automatic suspension. The injured player missed almost the entire length of game 2 and all of game 3. The injury factor is a part of the disciplinary process outlined to all teams prior to the season, but is not the sole reason for discipline. Had the player not been injured, based upon the fact that the Fort Wayne player violated Rule 48 implemented into professional hockey this season, a suspension was still clearly going to be issued, and any missed time from such a hit, in this case 2 games, means the player was injured due to this improper hit and typically a longer suspension is warranted as in the 3 games issued in this instance. Obviously in the timeframe that disciplinary measures need to be taken, you rarely know the extent of the injury sustained. We understand emotions run high in the playoffs, and understand frustration by any club, but we believe too much emphasis in this instance has been placed upon length of time missed by a player over the fact that any injury occurred.''
Comments
Even Rush fans aren't denying that Harvey should be suspended even thought there is no truly clear video of the hit. The stupid thing is he was allowed to stay on the ice after slamming his stick against the glass AND slashing Drouin before the faceoff. I know it's AA officiating but Good Grief!
I cannot believe there was not a commisioner of discipline (or whatever the guy's title would be) at this game after all the crap that has gone on between these two teams. Does that not make the CHL officials the stupidest people on the planet this week?? That to me would just be a given. Of course, there's gonna be bad blood. Of course, there's gonna be intensity. It IS playoff hockey. This reaffirms my thinking that this Duane Lewis is a moron.
RobC, you make excellent points there....slamming his stick against the glass should have been a 2 min unsportsmanlike, probably. He then would not have been there to slash Drouin, but since he was and did, that would have eliminated him for another 2. Maybe throw in a stupidity penalty for this guy as well. I mean for the ref.