Last April the WHL suspended Brandon Magee of the Victoria Royals for 12 games for this vicious crosscheck to the head of Nic Petan of the Winterhawks. The incident occurred in the Royals' final game of the season, as Portland won that game and eliminated the Royals from the playoffs. So, the suspension was to be served this season. But was it?
Magee played his first game for the Royals last Saturday, which was Victoria's 13th game of the season. So he did miss their first 12 games. But there's a catch: Magee was in the training camp of the NHL's Calgary Flames until September 22, which means he was not available to play in Victoria's first two games of the season anyway. So in other words, Magee only actually missed ten WHL games which he could have played in. Not the 12 he was suspended for.
It would appear the WHL allowed Magee to count toward his suspension two games that he wasn't on Victoria's roster for. This seems....wrong? If, theoretically, he had signed a contract with the Flames and been sent to their AHL affiliate, could he have played several games for them, earning a paycheque, then been sent back to Victoria last week and been able to start playing immediately, thus effectively serving no suspension at all (and getting a few pro paycheques along the way)?
I don't understand this aspect of the WHL's suspension policy at all.
8 comments:
He was suspended for 12 WHL games. He missed 12 WHL games. I'm sure if he did sign a contract and play a few games of pro the league would have reviewed that...but he didn't sign and didn't play. Moot point and no one is complaining but you.
Save the WHL curmudgeon act for Drinnan.
Leagues are supposed to honour each others suspensions. I recall a junior player years ago who was suspended for 30 games and spent his suspension in the IHL, honing his craft as a goon. He came back to junior after the time was up. It's wrong. A suspension should mean you serve the time. Not just go play somewhere else.
I'm complaining, too.
I don't own a WHL rule book, but unless it states that a suspended player has to sit in the stands for the duration of their suspension, this all seems pretty black and white to me. No big deal. He was suspended for 12 games and missed 12 games. Not much to not understand Alan.
Safe to say the Royals fans have found my blog, eh? :)
I'm with you Alan when a player is not on a team roster it is hard to count the game as a suspended game served
Actually if you look the league is very inconsistent about this. You will see that typically, they are suspended for those games that they are available. It actually should result in fines to Victoria and more suspensions... I wouldn't be shocked if that happened.
How about extremely inconsistent. If this is the case then why was Richard Nejezchleb made to serve his two game suspension from last years playoffs when he was returned to the Wheat Kings? He missed the first 13 or so games by then. Is that not the same thing?
I believe he sat out the first two games but Brandon dressed the other two Euros so it would not have counted towards the suspension. If one of your euros is suspended and you are carrying three, you can only dress one. Same rule applies to twenty year olds.
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