Life threatening OHL hit

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by WazzuRC

What was the guy supposed to do? Lightly tap him on the shoulder? If the guy that got hit was 19, would you have the same opinion? I think it speaks more against the league that you have 20 year olds going against 16 years olds than the two players. Blame the league, not the player. The kid wasn't vulnerable. He turned his body at the last minute. If he's not against the boards, it's a big hit, but nothing out of the ordinary. The fact that the hit was so bad was because the guy was against the boards, turned his body at the last minute, and his face went to the boards.

I think it's more due to the intention rather then the severity of the hit. Let's face it the kid was gonna get his bell rung even if he was properly positioned. There's very little respect for players out there on the ice and that was an unfortunate example of it.

[yankeesgiants]

First off, why is a 175 pound child out there with a man? There is 4 years and a 25 pound weight difference between the players, it's a disaster waiting to happen. This is a sophmore in high school playing against a junior in college. why would any league allow this? All the commish is trying to do is CYA at the expense of a player which is not right. 20 year olds dont belong on the ice with 16 year olds period! This is a case of a commish penalizing result over intent.

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by yankeesgiants

First off, why is a 175 pound child out there with a man? There is 4 years and a 25 pound weight difference between the players, it's a disaster waiting to happen. This is a sophmore in high school playing against a junior in college. why would any league allow this? All the commish is trying to do is CYA at the expense of a player which is not right. 20 year olds dont belong on the ice with 16 year olds period! This is a case of a commish penalizing result over intent.

Well it's an issue whereby you have an over age (the 20 yr old) and an underage player (16) on the ice at the same time. The OHL has a cap on 16 year olds at 3 per team. I have a feeling that there's going to be some careful scrutiny of the age rules in junior hockey or at least there should be.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by SPTO

I think it's more due to the intention rather then the severity of the hit. Let's face it the kid was gonna get his bell rung even if he was properly positioned. There's very little respect for players out there on the ice and that was an unfortunate example of it.

I call BS. The suspension had EVERYTHING to do with the result and nothing to do with the intention. The kid had the puck and turned his back at the last second. It was a clean, shoulder-to-shoulder hit.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by SPTO

Did any of my Canadian friends here catch the TSN NHL panel talking about this? What a bunch of jokers! Bob Clarke called the suspension ridiculous and that Jones guy (I forget his first name) defended the hit and more or less called it unfortunate because all the guy was trying to do was change the momentum of the game. He then has the balls to say it was a terrible suspension. The only guy who made any sense was Bob Mckenzie who applauded David Branch's ruling calling it a brave ruling on his part. These idiots don't realize that it was a 16 year old that got pulverized out there. I know 16 year olds are a lot better equipped then they were 10 years ago but it's distasteful that some 20 year old would go and bash in a kid in a vulnerable position like that. We're dealing with a minor here, not some veteran NHL player who would most likely not be in the position to get hit like that. Branch has a duty to look after his players and when it comes to minors he has to be a bit more harsh because he isn't only working under the demands of his owners and such but also to the parents that entrust him and the league to make sure their kids don't get turned to mush. OTOH Nick Kypreos of all people from Sportsnet had the right take on this and made the same point i'm making here. This was one of the few times where a Sportsnet guy made more sense then a TSN guy on hockey matters.

Looks like we're in the minority here SPTO, but I agree whole-heartedly with you.
The point Branch is making is that players have to be accountable to one-another out there.
Just because it's in your right to cream someone and the opportunity is there, doesn't always mean you should do it - at least not 100%.
As the equipment gets bigger and harder, players think they're invincible.

I also agree that Major Junior is no place for anyone under 18.
These kids should be allowed to finish high-school at home and then move on to major junior.
For some of these kids, the difference between 16 and 20 is 4" and 30 pounds. Not to mention experience in how to avoid dangerous plays.

We forget sometimes that the CHL is a league for KIDS. Protection is needed because most teenagers don't have a clue what restraint is or how to employ it.

[olliethebum85]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Looks like we're in the minority here SPTO, but I agree whole-heartedly with you. The point Branch is making is that players have to be accountable to one-another out there. Just because it's in your right to cream someone and the opportunity is there, doesn't always mean you should do it - at least not 100%. As the equipment gets bigger and harder, players think they're invincible.

This might be the stupidest thing I have EVER read on this site.

It was a CLEAN hit. Liambis isn't skating around thinking "oh they have 16 years old, I better memorize what number they are so I don't hit them so hard. I can't believe both of you are seriously getting on this guy for hitting him to hard because he is 16. HE IS ON THE ICE. This wasn't on the street where some 20 year old just comes up and punches a kid in the face. HE IS PLAYING HOCKEY

Players hold each other accountable for dirty hits, which this was not. This is the teams, league and the kids parents fault. This is equivalent to putting a sophomore in high school on the field with a college football team full of 20+ year olds.

I hope this guy gets unsuspended. He did absolutely nothing wrong and was just playing the game.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by olliethebum85

This might be the stupidest thing I have EVER read on this site. It was a CLEAN hit. Liambis isn't skating around thinking "oh they have 16 years old, I better memorize what number they are so I don't hit them so hard. I can't believe both of you are seriously getting on this guy for hitting him to hard because he is 16. HE IS ON THE ICE. This wasn't on the street where some 20 year old just comes up and punches a kid in the face. HE IS PLAYING HOCKEY Players hold each other accountable for dirty hits, which this was not. This is the teams, league and the kids parents fault. This is equivalent to putting a sophomore in high school on the field with a college football team full of 20+ year olds. I hope this guy gets unsuspended. He did absolutely nothing wrong and was just playing the game.

You obviously missed the entire point to my post.
Never once did I write that the hit was illegal.
I also pointed out that Branch was trying to make a point about how even if you have a clean hit lined up, you need to take into account the damage you can cause.
In this situation, Liambas was coming in with full steam for about 100 feet before smearing Fanelli into the boards. He could have let up some. That was my point. And it's obviously Branch's as well.

And where in my post did I say that these guys need to remember who's 16 years old?
I'll wait while you look that up. I'll also gladly wait for you apology for putting words in my mouth and then slandering me with them.

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Just because it's in your right to cream someone and the opportunity is there, doesn't always mean you should do it - at least not 100%. As the equipment gets bigger and harder, players think they're invincible.

This is a great point that I think often gets overlooked. The size and protection of equipment today often makes players think they're invincible but it's been demonstrated a few times in studies and in just watching the game that guys ram into each other whether it be a totally legal hit or slightly dirty and the the hittee is absolutely pulverized not because they aren't protected but because most of the protective gear is hard plastic and whatnot. There's a concussion effect to being bodychecked that isn't accounted for.

You add in the fact that boards and the glass don't give way and you've got huge guys getting crunched at a rapid speed every game. Of COURSE we're going to see some disrespect or rather brazen hitting on the ice. If you watch hockey from the 70s or 80s you'll see that the hitting isn't nearly as fierce because there was a mutual respect and they weren't hulking monstrosities that feel their safe due to huge equipment.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

You obviously missed the entire point to my post. Never once did I write that the hit was illegal. I also pointed out that Branch was trying to make a point about how even if you have a clean hit lined up, you need to take into account the damage you can cause.

There's faulty logic here. Branch should MAKE those kind of hits illegal first. How can a season-long suspension be justified on a clean hit?

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by SPTO

You add in the fact that boards and the glass don't give way and you've got huge guys getting crunched at a rapid speed every game. Of COURSE we're going to see some disrespect or rather brazen hitting on the ice. If you watch hockey from the 70s or 80s you'll see that the hitting isn't nearly as fierce because there was a mutual respect and they weren't hulking monstrosities that feel their safe due to huge equipment.

I've seen plenty of games from the 70s and 80s and don't believe there was "mutual respect" at all. Yes, players are now bigger and faster, and the boards don't "give" nearly as much as they used to. Fine. So change the rules then. You can't throw the book at a player if he hasn't broken any rules.