2nd Canadian world junior player suspended
Written by on February 4th, 2010 in Latest News.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended Val-d’Or Foreurs defenceman Marco Scandella indefinitely for hitting an opponent in the head only weeks after it suspended another player for an elbow hit.
The latest incident occurred in a game Wednesday against the Rimouski Oceanic, with Scandella elbowing Alexandre Durette in the head during a collision near the boards.
Durette’s helmet was broken on the play, but no penalty was called.
“This afternoon, [QMJHL disciplinarian] Raymond Bolduc informed me of his choice to suspend Marco Scandella indefinitely,” league commissioner Gilles Courteau said in a statement Thursday. “After seeing the hit, I believe it is the right choice while the disciplinary process runs its course.
“Our position is clear: we have a responsibility to protect our players. Their safety is our No. 1 priority.”
Scandella was considered to be one of Canada’s top defencemen at this year’s world junior hockey championship in Saskatchewan last month.
The player, who turns 20 later this month, was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2008 NHL entry draft.
Bolduc will gather testimony from on-ice officials as well as players and members of both teams, then analyze the facts and review his findings with a committee before deciding what action to take.
No timetable for when a choice will be reached has been set.
Last month, the QMJHL suspended Patrice Cormier of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for the rest of the season. Cormier came off the bench during a game, headed to centre ice and elbowed Mikael Tam of the Quebec Remparts in the head.
Tam required hospitalization after suffering a head injury and broken teeth.
Cormier was the captain of Canada’s world junior team.
With files from CBCSports.ca
