Suspenion Due to Injury - SAIT Hockey - Jon Malin |
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Commissioner's Rulings
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2011-12 SeasonSeptember 26, 2011 Facts: On September 17, 2011 SAIT’s Jon Malin (#4) received a major/game misconduct (boarding) for a hit that injured Augustana’s Adam Johnson. As a result of the hit, I am advised by Augustana that Mr. Johnson suffered a severe concussion and received 20 stitches to the head. It is Augustana’s position that Mr. Malin’s infraction represented a blatant and direct “check to the head” of Mr. Johnson and has provided me with video footage in support of its position. They state that Mr. Johnson was unconscious before he struck the ice. SAIT has countered that Mr. Malin was simply finishing his check and that this unfortunate injury resulted from Mr. Johnson’s helmet popping off during the check, leaving him unprotected as he fell to the ice. I spoke at length with the referee about this incident. He confirmed that he did not directly witness the incident, instead receiving the details from his linesman. The position of the game officials is that this was not a vicious check. In their opinion, Mr. Johnson’s injury resulted from his helmet falling off, causing his head to strike the ice surface when he fell. They described Mr. Malin as riding Mr. Johnson into the glass in the course of finishing his check. They also noted a significant size disparity between the 6’4” Mr. Malin and a much smaller Mr. Johnson. The officials stated that they would not have called a penalty had Mr. Johnson not been injured. They also felt that the incident did not fall under the new headshot rule although, in fairness, they did not have the benefit of reviewing video footage. Ruling: Rule 8.4.4 applies to this situation. It reads as follows: A major and game misconduct penalty called as the result of an injury shall be subject to review by the Commissioner. The offending player may be subject to a suspension to be determined by the Commissioner… I have reviewed the video footage numerous times. I tend to agree that this was not a vicious check, by any means. Although my ruling does not turn on it, I was not able to conclusively determine that this was a check to the head. The initial contact appears to be shoulder to shoulder, with possible subsequent contact from Mr. Malin’s shoulder to Mr. Johnson’s head due to the significant size disparity between the two individuals. Watching the video in real time, there was very little time between Mr. Johnson clearing the puck before being struck by Mr. Malin. It appeared to me that Mr. Malin was simply finishing his check. I agree that Mr. Johnson’s helmet appears to come off upon being hit by Mr. Malin such that his head was left unprotected as he fell to the ice. It is extremely unfortunate that Mr. Johnson sustained such serious injuries. However, I do not see that the circumstances here warrant supplemental discipline. Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee |