OHL player gets season ban for hit
The Ontario Hockey League has reacted strongly to a hit that put a Kitchener Rangers defenceman in critical condition, suspending Michael Liambas of the Erie Otters for the remainder of the season.
Ben Fanelli, who is now listed in serious but stable condition, suffered skull and facial fractures after he was hit into the boards during the Oct. 30 game.
The suspension of Liambas, 20, will include the playoffs.
“Players must understand they shall be held accountable for their actions,” OHL commissioner David Branch said in a statement. “We must all work towards improving the level of respect players have towards opposing players and the game in general.”
Fanelli was handling the puck behind his own net in a game at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The defender turned his head towards the boards as Liambis approached in stride.
While Liambis didn’t lift his skates off the ground, the impact of the hit broke Fanelli’s helmet. The teen’s head appeared to strike the metal partition framing the glass at the Zamboni entrance.
Fanelli twitched on the ice before being attended to by team and arena staff. The 16-year-old Oakville, Ont., native suffered a facial cut that led to considerable bleeding.
Fanelli is recuperating at Hamilton General Hospital after being airlifted from Kitchener.
Liambis received a match penalty for boarding on the play. Otters coach Robbie Ftorek, a former NHL player and coach, told the Erie Times-News that the Woodbridge, Ont., native has been having a tough time emotionally in the wake of the incident.
Liambas is a five-foot-nine, 200-pounder. Fanelli is four inches taller, and is about 25 pounds lighter.
Fanelli had an assist through his first seven games with Kitchener.
“He’s a player that we felt had the opportunity not only to be a =great player for Kitchener, but I believe had an opportunity, and I still hope he has an opportunity, to be a professional hockey player,” said Rangers coach Spott.
Liambas was entering his fourth season with Erie. ln 124 games with the Otters, he had compiled five goals, eight assists, and 357 penalty minutes.
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15 Comments
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Liambas should be charged criminally with assault causing grievous bodily harm.
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penalties and when a clean hard hit is made they throw the guy out for the season. Ben turned and lowered himself just before the hit and it was too late for Michael to back off the way it looks to me.
The league allows the age difference and body contact so who's playing Michael as the scapegoat ?
What about the equipment rules.....are all the players wearing properly fitted helmuts that are done up properly ? IMO this may have contributed !! Is the door designed properly ??? Some people need to get their heads out of their asses....Michael is there for a reason and it's all condoned by the league, enjoyed by the fans and sells tickets.
Best to Ben and his family.....hope he has a speedy recovery.
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penalties and when a clean hard hit is made they throw the guy out for the season. Ben turned and lowered himself just before the hit and it was too late for Michael to back off the way it looks to me.
The league allows the age difference and body contact so who's playing Michael as the scapegoat ?
What about the equipment rules.....are all the players wearing properly fitted helmuts that are done up properly ? IMO this may have contributed !! Is the door designed properly ??? Some people need to get their heads out of their asses....Michael is there for a reason and it's all condoned by the league, enjoyed by the fans and sells tickets.
Best to Ben and his family.....hope he has a speedy recovery.
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penalties and when a clean hard hit is made they throw the guy out for the season. Ben turned and lowered himself just before the hit and it was too late for Michael to back off the way it looks to me.
The league allows the age difference and body contact so who's playing Michael as the scapegoat ?
What about the equipment rules.....are all the players wearing properly fitted helmuts that are done up properly ? IMO this may have contributed !! Is the door designed properly ??? Some people need to get their heads out of their asses....Michael is there for a reason and it's all condoned by the league, enjoyed by the fans and sells tickets.
Best to Ben and his family.....hope he has a speedy recovery.
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A tradegic event that is now even more tradegic by the suspension. David Branch needs to re think his decision. He has no frame of reference as to what hockey players see, do and react in a game because he has never, yes never, played the game at this level. If David Branch wants to suspend this Erie player for a significant amount of time, then maybe a 10 to 20 game suspension is warranted to tell the player be careful. But for the whole season. what was he thinking? No one wins in this situation and David Branch has made matters worse with his actions. Maybe, the league should now suspend Branch until he can find some common sense in how he approaches the game.
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The only reason this punk feels bad is because he has been suspended for the rest of the season.
I think Liambis should find a coach whose style is like Graham James had years ago.
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At the very least...Liambis should get an invite to a Ducks camp.
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