Please help support
The Inferno
Cardiff Devils vs Coventry Blaze: Disciplinary Findings
Just in case you missed all last weekends going's on Holly gives us a breakdown of the events -
Sunday night saw two counts of disappointment for Cardiff Devils’ fans; after two hard fought games, the Coventry Blaze stripped the Devils of four crucial challenge cup points. Unfortunately, the blunders did not end at the final buzzer.
Tension rose during the third, with Devils’ forward Max Birbraer being assessed for a match penalty, after a check to the head on Blaze defenseman Benn Olson, at 12.26. For this Birbraer received an automatic five match ban, and was thrown out of the game. The Elite League Disciplinary Council have confirmed this ban and ruled that it cannot be appealed.
As the conflict escalated after the final buzzer, during the tradition team handshakes, Birbraer was awarded an addition match penalty for leaving the dressing room after being thrown out of the game and rejoining the action on the ice, earning himself, originally, an extra game ban. However, on deliberation, the Disciplinary Council have ruled that leaving the dressing room constitutes an automatic three match ban, increasing Birbraer’s total ban to eight matches. As with number 23’s original match penalty, the Cardiff Devils Organisation cannot appeal against the ruling.
Fan favourite Devin Didiomete of the Cardiff Devils also received a match ban in all the action. After receiving a fighting major and being escorted off the ice, Didiomete came to the defense of his bench coach, Neil Francis, and rejoined the altercation. This led to him being assessed for leaving the dressing room, resulting in a three match ban that has been confirmed by the Elite League. As with Birbraer’s penalties, Didiomete cannot appeal against this ruling.
With two of their power forwards out, Cardiff did not need any more misfortune. Unfortunately, bench coach Neil Francis has been included in the penalised and been given a match/game penalty for travesty in the game, leading to a one match ban. In addition to this, the Elite League have extended Francis’ ban by four games, his total ban lasting over five games.
So, in total, the Welsh side will lose Birbraer for eight games, Didiomete for three and Francis for five, putting the Devils at an extreme disadvantage over the course of the following games.
On the other hand, after being at the centre of the controversy and engaging in an extremely unnecessary exchange with a Cardiff fan, who has now had his game privileges revoked for the remainder of the 2012/2013 season and all following seasons until 2017, was assessed a match penalty for incident with a spectator. It has been decided the penalty is unjustified, therefore has been removed from Olson’s records and no further action will be taken.
Coventry received no other match/game penalties or bans during the event.
In addition to all bans and penalties mentioned above, the Elite League are further reviewing incidents that took place off-ice on Sunday night and will present their findings and a further statement in due course. For comments from the Elite League on the penalties awarded, click on the link below to go to the official statement:
http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/elite-league-discipline-p179983
To view any and all statements made by the Cardiff Devils’ Organisation, click the links below:
http://www.cardiffdevils.com/news/devils-news/cardiff-devils-club-statement/
http://www.cardiffdevils.com/news/devils-news/elite-league-and-investigation-update/
You can check out Holly's blog here http://theworldofsportbyateengirl.blogspot.co.uk/
« Back to News