SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE ASSESSED ON BUSSIERES, CONNOLLY AND GOULAKOS
The Elite League Department of Player Safety has assessed supplementary discipline on three players and fined one EIHL club following its review of the weekend’s incidents:
SATURDAY DECEMBER 2ND 2017
Nottingham Panthers v Sheffield Steelers
Player: Raphael Bussieres (Nottingham Panthers)
Reason for Review: Check to the Head
With play in progress and the puck in the vicinity, Raphael Bussieres does have the opportunity to body check his opponent.
What Bussieres does not have the possibility of doing however is starting with his stick in a downward and legal position.
Bussieres follows through on contact with his stick raised and his stick and arms making contact with the opposing player’s head.
This is not a body check and supplementary discipline is required for the following reasons:
* Bussieres did have the opportunity to make a legal body check, but failed to do so.
* Bussieres made minimal body-to-body contact with the majority of force through his arms with the arms and stick raised
* Contact was made with the opposing players head
* The Opposing player has no way to defend himself and cannot (and should not) have to prepare for a stick and hands to his head
This incident falls under Category 1 – ‘Careless’: insufficient attention or thought to avoid harm or error. Liable to happen as a consequence of, by intending to affect an opponent through a reactionary or accidental motion or the incident is deemed careless causing negligence.
Taking all of this into consideration, the Department of Player Safety has suspended Bussieres for one game.
Bussieres will miss the following game:
Saturday 9th December 2017 - Nottingham Panthers vs Cardiff Devils
Player: Bench minor against Nottingham Panthers
Reason for Review: Unsportsmanlike Conduct relating to the squirting of a water bottle from the team bench into the face of an opposing player and a game official.
Players Involved – Nottingham Panthers: Bench
Players Involved – Sheffield Steelers: Levi Nelson (#76)
Penalty Called: Bench - 2 minute Minor for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
It is conclusive that water is squirted from the Nottingham Panthers bench, however it is not conclusive which individual player squirted the water.
The body check prior to the incident, whether it is deemed legal or illegal, is absolutely no reason for any individual to squirt water from the players bench on to an opposing player on ice.
With the video evidence conclusive that water was squirted on to the the opposing player, but inconclusive as to the exact individual who performed this act, the Nottingham Panthers organisation has been fined £500 for this incident.
The responsibility of controlling the players on the bench is that of the coach and team, not the game officials, and this incident reflects poorly on the teams involved and the league.
Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils
Player: Tyson Strachan (Cardiff Devils)
Reason for Review: 2+10 penalty for Checking from Behind
After reviewing the play, the Department of Player Safety has determined that no further action is required.
The check from behind is border line in regards to further disciplinary action – Tyson Strachan must work to minimize contact when an opposing player’s rear numbers are showing.
Some onus must also be placed on Linden Springer to remain aware of his surroundings in situations such as the one which led to the original on-ice call.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 3RD 2017
Guildford Flames v Belfast Giants
Player: Spiro Goulakos (Belfast Giants)
Reason for Review: Boarding
Considering the puck was in the corner with two opposing players in pursuit, and no player in possession or control of the puck, there has to be a regard for playing the puck shown.
Spiro Goulakos showed no regard for the puck.
The play is deemed illegal and dangerous and raised to supplementary discipline.
Goulakos made a choice in not having a regard for the puck and instead made a check that is considered illegal under Category 2 – ‘Reckless’: a deliberate and/or dangerous action with no concern for the result, with a conscious action to provoke, through intent and a willful purpose. Injury is not the determining factor, but can be considered as influential means to the decision.
The key points from this incident are:
* Goulakos elevates into the check
* There is no use of the shoulder to make the check
* Goulakos’ left arm extended into the head area of the opposing player
* The Opposing player had no way to defend or protect himself
Taking all of this into consideration, the Department of Player Safety has suspended Goulakos for three games.
Goulakos will miss the following games:
Saturday 9th December 2017 - Manchester Storm vs Belfast Giants
Sunday 10th December 2017 - Sheffield Steelers vs Belfast Giants
Saturday 16th December 2017 - Fife Flyers vs Belfast Giants
Player: Spiro Goulakos (Belfast Giants)
Reason for Review: 2+10 penalty for Checking to the Head
After reviewing the play, the Department of Player Safety has determined that no further action is required.
Goulakos was involved in a puck battle with an opposing player. Goulakos’ arm did make contact with the opposing players head, but the 2+10 penalty for Checking to the
Head is deemed to be the correct call and constitutes sufficient punishment in relation to this particular incident.
Player: Jesse Craige (Guildford Flames)
Reason for Review: 2+10 penalty for Checking from Behind
After reviewing the play, the Department of Player Safety has determined that no further action is required.
The 2+10 penalty for Checking from behind was the correct call and constitutes sufficient punishment in relation to this particular incident.
Player: Brendan Connolly (Belfast Giants)
Reason for Review: Instigator of a fight inside the final 2 minutes of the game.
Players Involved – Guildford Flames: Brennan Yadlowski (#4) and Jesse Craige (#44)
Players Involved – Belfast Giants: Brendan Connolly (#63) and Blair Riley (#25)
Penalties Called:
Jesse Craige - 2+10 for Checking from Behind
Jesse Craige - 5 minute Fighting Major
Brennan Yadlowski - 5 minute Fighting Major
Brendan Connolly - 5 minute Fighting Major
Blair Riley - 5 minute Fighting Major
Considering the incident took place in the final 2 minutes of the game, and based on the EIHL protocol for fighting, supplementary discipline is required.
After receiving an illegal check, for which the referee had already signalled a delayed penalty, Brendan Connolly made the choice to take the matter into his own hands.
Connolly’s actions caused two fights which are deemed to be ‘pointless’ with minimal time left in the game.
After reviewing the incident and considering that the referee had signalled a delayed penalty against the opposing player, Brendan Connolly is deemed to have instigated a fight; with Connolly instigating the original fight and a second fight occurring as a result of Connolly’s actions, with neither fight adding any value to the game.
On this basis, supplementary discipline is required.
Considering Brendan Connolly is deemed the instigator of a fight in the final 2 minutes of the game a suspension is warranted.
Connolly is deemed instigator of the fight due to his immediate body movement from ice level to upright in an immediate aggressive nature, using his right arm directly at the head of unsuspecting opponent and throwing multiple punches at a defenceless and non willing opponent.
His opponent did not engage, did not fight and was a non willing participant in the entire fisticuff.
On this basis, this fight should have been considered a one-man fight, as the opponent did not engage.
EIHL Procedure: The instigator of an altercation in the final two (2) minutes of regulation time or any time in overtime, shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major for fighting, a game misconduct (2 minute Minor + 5 minute Major + 20 minute Game Misconduct) and also an automatic minimum one-game suspension.
Connolly is therefore automatically suspended for one game.
Connolly will miss the following game:
Saturday 9th December 2017 - Manchester Storm vs Belfast Giants
