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Gerein suspended two games for ‘high hit’

Jan 9, 2018 | 6:11 PM

North Stars forward Troy Gerein has been suspended for two games, following a hit he made on Friday night against the Notre Dame Hounds.

On the play, Gerein was given a two minute penalty for interference.

This is the fourth time Gerein has been suspended this season. He was given a five-game ban for taking part in a post-game brawl on Halloween and was also given a two-game suspension in late November for another play that was only a minor penalty for interference.

He was also automatically suspended three games after he was handed a gross misconduct in the final 10 minutes of a game in October.

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League commissioner Bill Chow said on Tuesday that there were a few things wrong with Gerein’s hit this past Friday.

“The object of the game of hockey is to score goals or gain possession of the puck. If you watch the hit, he’s not trying to gain possession of the puck and he’s not trying to score a goal,” Chow said. “He is doing neither. The hit is high and outside of the 90 degree [angle].”

 

 

 

 

Chow said the process for suspensions is for coaches to send in requests for supplemental discipline with video of the incident, unless there is a major or match penalty given at the time of the incident, in which case the league reviews it anyway.

He is not the only one to see video of incidents but ultimately it is his call on whether to apply a suspension or not.

Chow dismissed the notion that the league may be picking on certain players solely due to their reputation.

“Thirty years of being a policeman, it would get a little bit tired if you started to pick on certain people, so I would call BS,” Chow said.

Chow said if any other North Star had made that same hit on Friday, they would have been suspended too.

He added that repeat offenders are taken into consideration, however.

“We look at everybody’s track record and if there’s a player that has had incidents in which he’s been suspended for before, then obviously that becomes a factor,” Chow said.

North Stars head coach Brandon Heck said it’s unfortunate to have to play without Gerein yet again.

“We’re obviously disappointed and didn’t agree with the call,” Heck said. “It was a tough one. The worst part is [Gerein] is a big part of our team and we lose him. It’s a questionable decision.”

 

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11