LeBlanc suspended 3 games
Boucherville, Wednesday January 6th, 2016 – The Director of Player Safety of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Raymond Bolduc, suspended Olivier LeBlanc of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for 3 games. The suspension was handed out following an incident that occurred on January 3rd against the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Here is the rationale that led to the decision:
The opponent came into the offensive zone with the puck along the boards and cut to the middle at the top of the face-off circle.
The player at fault was at the blue line in the middle of the ice.
He accelerated and headed towards the opponent.
As the opponent cut to the middle, he braked and propelled himself upwards to check him.
The player at fault propelled himself to hit his opponent who was bigger than him.
The first point of contact of the player at fault’s shoulder was his opponent’s chin and then the two helmets hit each other.
This gesture is an illegal check to the head.
The opponent was injured on the play.
This is the first offense of the player at fault.
The Director of Player Safety took 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.
