Waked suspended 3 games

BOUCHERVILLE, Thursday March 19, 2015 – The Director of Player Safety of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Raymond Bolduc, suspended Antoine Waked of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for 3 games. The suspension was handed out following an incident that occurred on March 15th, against the Sherbrooke Phoenix.

Here is the rationale that led to the decision:

Sherbrooke’s right defensemen is in control of the puck in his defensive zone.

He passes the puck to a teammate along the boards in the neutral zone near the blue line.

The player at fault is in the crease facing the defensemen, he turns and goes along the boards towards his opponent.

The Sherbrooke player shot the puck on the boards towards the other zone.

A Rouyn-Noranda player was already putting pressure on him.

The player at fault skated towards him and hit him.

In this situation, the player at fault headed towards the opponent, propelled himself upwards and hit the opponent’s head with his forearm.

Both skates were not touching the ice at impact.

Also, the opponent wasn’t in possession of the puck long enough to be hit.

He was already pressured by another player.

The Sherbrooke player suffered no injury on this play.

The is not the first offense of the player at fault.

The Director of Player Safety made this decision after having viewed videos of the incident, considered the officials report, spoken to the players and organizations involved and after consulting the Advisory Committee for disciplinary action.