"The Ontario Hockey League came down hard on Erie Otters forward Michael Liambas on Wednesday, suspending him for the entire season after a hit that left his opponent with serious head injuries."
Too bad David Branch, OHL Commissioner, wasn't NHL Commissioner when Bergeron got creamed by Randy Jones.
Typical ******** from David Branch. The hit wasn't that bad but because of the coverage and injuries sustained to Fanelli, Liambas' OHL career is over.
Like most major sports now a days, suspensions always seem to be based on the extent of the injury. And have little to do with whether of not there was any intent or any rule/penalty committed. It's too bad hockey is following the status quo. Posted via Mobile Device
I'd have to agree with everybody else, that was more unfortunate than anything else and I hardly think a year suspension is fair. I guess you can argue a couple games but that's still pushing it imo.
I think what happened was the defenseman behind the net didn't even see the guy going because he was being blocked by the goalie as he skated back around the net. Look at the defender as he touches the puck. The goalie is in between him and the player throwing the hit the whole time until the forward was right there and at that point, the defender was looking the opposite way.
Very very unfortunate and sad but I don't think it should have been a suspension, never mind a year suspension.
Absolutely absurd. I really feel for the injured kid. It was a vicious hit, but sometimes that happens in hockey. He didn't charge, he kept his elbows down and the defenseman turned on him. Now they are going to punish this guy for being unlucky?
Well worth, this guy is a headhunter. And people who think this is not charging don't know what charging is.
I'm with you. The guy has a history of hitting from behind. People like him should not be allowed to play semi/professional hockey.
That hit may have been "legal", but it was needlessly vicious and the other kid wound up with skull fractures. I am becoming more and more concerned that someone will get killed while playing a GAME. That would be utterly ridiculous.
The defenseman spun himself into position for that hit.
Of course it should have been a penalty. Even if you don't agree with the boarding call, that is one of the most blatant charges I've ever seen. It's the charge that made that hit so vicious. If it had just been a regular hit from behind, that kid might have been alright.
Last edited by Theodoriph: 11-04-2009 at 10:11 PM.
The length of the suspension is definitely a reaction to the injuries sustained. One thing that I think we all need to realize is that the OHL isn't professional hockey. This is a league that is played by kids from 16 years old and up to 21. There's a big disparity in age and size of some of the players. An offense shouldn't be looked at in NHL terms. The discipline has to be handed out in more of minor hockey terms.
However, I still feel that the suspension was excessive. This was obviously a message that Branch wanted to send, and I'm pretty sure the entire league hears it. I'm just not sure that a 20 game suspension couldn't send the identical message.
I'm with you. The guy has a history of hitting from behind. People like him should not be allowed to play semi/professional hockey.
That hit may have been "legal", but it was needlessly vicious and the other kid wound up with skull fractures. I am becoming more and more concerned that someone will get killed while playing a GAME. That would be utterly ridiculous.
how dare someone interrupt my right to be entertained via human sacrifice
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
obvious charge by an overager, but as is typical of the usual gang of apologists at hfboards, that will be overlooked by 75% of the posters
That's a bogus suspension. I feel bad for the guy who got hit, but it was just bad luck when he hit the boards. Looked like a good hit to me. Arms were down and he didn't maliciously attack a vulnerable player.
I would say it was a good hit, and ended unfortunately... but that would make me a blood thirsty troglodyte apparently? Even if this guy is dirty hitter and a *******, past behavior shouldn't affect the suspension. I think the hit was clean, and not unusual in the least. You should never rely on leagues or commissioners or opposing players to protect you on the ice, keep your head up and anticipate getting steamrolled if you put yourself in a compromising position.
I would say it was a good hit, and ended unfortunately... but that would make me a blood thirsty troglodyte apparently? Even if this guy is dirty hitter and a *******, past behavior shouldn't affect the suspension. I think the hit was clean, and not unusual in the least. You should never rely on leagues or commissioners or opposing players to protect you on the ice, keep your head up and anticipate getting steamrolled if you put yourself in a compromising position.
Clean...did you miss the charge? He started making his run before he hit the top of the circle. It was around 7-9 strides. Pretty hard to miss it.
And of course previous bad behaviour should affect his suspension as it shows the man suffers from serious character defects and shouldn't be allowed to play hockey. The same hold true for any repetitious criminal activity. You show a preponderance for committing crime, you get punished more severely than someone who does not.
Last edited by Theodoriph: 11-05-2009 at 12:13 AM.
This guy was an obvious goon that charged the defenseman from the red line.
The suspension probably has more about the image of the league than anything else. The hit was dirty and there was an obvious intent to injure, but the image of the league suffered a hit too. What parent would send their 16 year old to the OHL if Liambas wasn't suspended?
Clean...did you miss the charge? He started making his run before he hit the top of the circle. It was around 7-9 strides. Pretty hard to miss it.
And of course previous bad behaviour should affect his suspension as it shows the man suffers from serious character defects and shouldn't be allowed to play hockey. The same hold true for any repetitious criminal activity. You show a preponderance for committing crime, you get punished more severely than someone who does not.
Ovechkin charges like that all the time, but hockey fans and the media call it his passion for the game because he also scores goals. If the guy throwing the hit is the Ovechkin of the OHL and not a goon, he's not suspended for more than 5 games.
Agree or not with the length of suspension, Branch has always been at the forefront of making sure the health and safety of the junior player is priority #1. He`s got a set of crutons that GB will never be able to grow.
Despite some comments on Branch being influenced by the media coverage of this story, his history preceedes itself in his rulings of many other issues/concerns in regards to the betterment of the Junior game, and his rulings have often been made swiftly, and well before the media had time to get it`s grubby, Enquirer-like hands on a story.
"The distance travelled and the speed" of the player in this particular incident are what Branch deemed as terribly irresponsible, and I agree, whether or not we feel the Dman may have turned at the last minute, this kid took more than just a few strides to hit his target.
Ovechkin charges like that all the time, but hockey fans and the media call it his passion for the game because he also scores goals. If the guy throwing the hit is the Ovechkin of the OHL and not a goon, he's not suspended for more than 5 games.
I disagree...I don't recall any of OV's hits being anywhere near that vicious. Also, I don't recall him causing any skull fractures either. You don't like ovechkin, that's fine. But you can't seriously compare him to a guy who has a long history of these types of hits and causing injuries.
I like the suspension for the reason that this dumb ass will think twice about trying to kill sombody the next time he plays...wich I hope is never.
I can't believe th posters defending the hit and saying it wasn't that bad...that was a horrible hit that was a penalty in more than one way. From behind, elbow, contact to the head, charging...just downright vicious and I'm glad they came down hard on this kid.
