Great job by the OHL to suspend Christian Thomas for 10 games for a stick foul

[Hunter Gathers]

Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which took place in a game played in Oshawa on the 23rd of October, 2011 involving the Generals and the visiting Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a match penalty for high sticking assessed to player Christian Thomas of the Oshawa Generals Hockey Club.

Based on such review, it is the position of the League that player Christian Thomas shall be suspended for ten (10) games, dating from but not including the game of Sunday, October 23rd, 2011.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/ohl-announces-disciplinary-action/107674

Click on the link. There is another link for the video there.

Looked to me like an intentional (but ruled unintentional) stick foul. Thomas is lucky that this was a glancing blow that did no damage. When he was on the ground, you see his stick just whip up at the opposing player. Any flagrant stick foul like this is disturbing, but if this connected it could have been seriously bad for the opposing player.

Maybe not 100% good on the OHL, because I am surprised that Thomas was able to convince them that the foul was unintentional (maybe I am reading the video wrong, but it does seem to say that Thomas convinced the disciplinarians that the swing was unintentional).

Either way, nice to see the OHL teaching a young player a lesson here.

Click to read more...

 

[ORYX]

Looks pretty vicious to me. I am not surprised though, this is about the 7th player to receive a 10+ game suspension this year for reckless incidents that could and should have been avoided.

Maybe the players will finally learn to control their sticks and respect the opponent?

I have no problem with heavy suspensions. As long as the players show such a disregard for eachother keep it up Branch!

 

[magic school bus]

I'm a little surprised that you support the decision so much (since you're a Rangers fan). but it's a good move. stick plays like that can't be allowed in any level. I think Bouchard got suspended for a stick penalty earlier this season, so there's some consistency with both leagues.

 

[wedge]

so, the fact that the player hasn't suffered a serious injury and came back in the game is a reason why it's "only" ten games?

We have the proof that if an injury occurs, the suspension will be longer.

 

[rick3652]

so, the fact that the player hasn't suffered a serious injury and came back in the game is a reason why it's "only" ten games?

We have the proof that if an injury occurs, the suspension will be longer.

if the player was injury he would of got more than 20 games.

 

[Freudian]

Thomas is lucky he didn't connect better.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Thomas is lucky he didn't connect better.

Hell yeah he is.

I'm a little surprised that you support the decision so much (since you're a Rangers fan). but it's a good move. stick plays like that can't be allowed in any level. I think Bouchard got suspended for a stick penalty earlier this season, so there's some consistency with both leagues.

Why? I'm no homer. I think my posting here shows that. With that said, Thomas probably even deserved more. I ****ing despise stick fouls like this and I hope the kid learns his lesson. Never want to see anything like this from him as a Ranger (or even again as a prospect)

 

[Pajicz]

Damn, that's really a brutal swing. Luckily his accuracy wasn't superb. Hopefully he'll learn during these ten games in which he won't be playing.

 

[leafsfuture]

Thomas likely just cost himself a shot at the WJC team.

Shame, kid was absolutely amazing last year, but has struggled so far.

 

[wej20]

Lucky boy that could have been a lot worse.

 

[Mr Lahey*]

I cant even see him swinging the stick? Am I missing something. All I can see is the reaction.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I cant even see him swinging the stick? Am I missing something. All I can see is the reaction.

Thomas is on the ground in front of the net. Watch again. A lot of people missed it at first.

 

[SI90]

Camera his hard to tell but he did swing really hard... my eyes are not good enough to see if it was intentional

 

[Sore Loser]

Surely looks like there's some intention to slash the opponent there. Might not have been aiming for the head, and he's lucky he didn't get it better. I have absolutely no problem with this suspension - that could have been a very, very ugly black eye for our game.

 

[HockeySauce]

Saw that while watching the game. It was intentional. He was getting pushed around infront of the net, and then when he was pushed/cross-checked to the ice, he turned around and took a swing at the Saginaw player's head. Reckless and stupid and very deserving of 10 games.