The QMJHL handed out a pair of suspensions Tuesday.
Acadie-Bathurst Titan winger Jeffrey Truchon-Viel received a four-game ban, while defenceman Jacob Arsenault of the Moncton Wildcats will be ineligible to play for the next five contests.
Truchon-Viel was punished for a high hit he landed on Maxim Mizyurin during a game against the Val-d’Or Foreurs on Oct. 21. The league’s director of player safety, Raymond Bolduc, issued the following rationale:
— The opponent was in control of the puck as he entered the zone on the right side.
— He then cut towards the middle near the blue line.
— When he saw the player at fault coming, he lost control of the puck.
— The player at fault was back checking.
— He headed towards the opponent and hit him.
— The player at fault slowed down a bit and then propelled himself and hit the opponent with force.
— He hit the opponent’s body and head simultaneously with his shoulder.
— At the moment of contact, his two skates were no longer touching the ice surface.
— This is not the first offense of the player at fault.
— The opponent was injured on the play.
Arsenault was suspended for punching a member of the Shawinigan Cataractes during a game on Oct. 22.
Here is Bolduc’s rationale that led to the five-game decision:
— The play was happening behind the net, while the two players involved were at the height of the faceoff dot.
— They were tussling, then the player at fault knocked the opponent to the ice and started to hit him.
— The player at fault punched the opponent directly in the face then the officials intervened.
— He continued and gave two to three more shots with his glove.
— The gesture was dangerous and free.
— The league does not tolerate this kind of gesture.
— This is the first offence of the player at fault.
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