Petgrave gets 5 game suspension

[BonesBuddy]

From the Attack website

The Ontario Hockey League has informed the Owen Sound Attack that they will be without the services of their highest point producing defenceman for the next five games.

Matt Petgrave will sit out the next five games for an infraction in the third period of last Saturday's 9-4 win over Sarnia. Sarnia's Ron Soucie (2 games) and Kyle Flemington (5 games) were also suspended for their infractions

[three dog night]

That will hurt the Attack who lost tonight to Saginaw it sounds like they are coming down to earth I read on that boscore that Andrew Shaw was stopped on a penalty shot and Fritch got an assist on their first goal

[hockeyfan]

What happened? Knowing Branch's irrational and draconian suspensions, it was probably a routine interference call or something.....

[BoneHead]

Watch the fight here. YouTube - Ron Soucie vs Matt Petgrave Petgrave threw a huge hip check and that resulted in another hit followed by an elbow and fight by Petgrave.

[the octopus]

It doesn't take long to get a reputation for going after knees. I'm glad someone fed Petgrave a couple of knuckle sandwiches.

[Canuck311]

O.k why did he get suspended? Cause hip checks are illegal now?

[hockeyfan]

Hit at your own risk when Branch is the commissioner. Long suspensions for clean hits seem to be routine these days. Kinda frustrating to say the least.

[blackjeep]

O.k why did he get suspended? Cause hip checks are illegal now?

I've been wondering the same thing. Was there more to this story than just the hit and a little scuffle?

[BoneHead]

I believe it had to do with the elbow that Petgrave gave after the fact and not the body check itself.

[AlphaDog]

O.k why did he get suspended? Cause hip checks are illegal now?

I believe they are. There's a penalty called "Clipping" which I believe refers to hip-checking.

[blackjeep]

Got the lowdown in the suspension. It was an elbowing major, bad enough to draw blood.

[Canuck311]

Hmmm very confused.... i dont like where hockey is going.


its becoming an American game ...

[AlphaDog]

Hmmm very confused.... i dont like where hockey is going.


its becoming an American game ...

Hockey at the NHL level has been an American game for a long time. 24 US teams and only 6 from Canada. That's 80% American. Even in the original 6, we only had 2. And many of the lower leagues follow what the NHL does.

If anything, I think the game in the States is more raw and traditional. It's up here in Canada that we seem to be always selecting safety over excitement, turning it into a powderpuff game.

Hockey really doesn't have any interest in protecting players though. If they did, they would go back to SOFT padding for equipment, instead of rock hard armor. The only pieces of equipment that need to be hard are the cup, shinpads, and helmet. And none of them are likely to hurt someone ELSE. But it's the rock-hard plastic plating on shoulder pads and elbow pads that are causing the injuries. We never used to have that when I was playing. And except for one year I think when I was 7, I played full-contact the entire time (since I started when I was 5).

If they truly want to lessen injuries, make shoulder/elbow pads mandatory soft padding.

[hockeyfan]

Excellent post AlphaDog. I've lived on both sides of the border in recent years, and sadly, you are right. I actually think the west is more like the US -- Ontario is the head of the change the game movement, and specifically, it's from certain media members in Toronto, many of whom are from the national media. Bob Mckenzie, Scott Laughlin, Damian Cox come to mind. In the west, the game hasn't changed as much, and in Quebec/Maritimes, it's still free of the Branch influence.

The comments on equipment are 100% accurate. That's why injuries have risen. Not the players. It's the equipment, and I firmly believe that.

[BonesBuddy]

Heard tonight that Petgrave is actually badly injured and out for a few games too.

[Canuck311]

Hockey at the NHL level has been an American game for a long time. 24 US teams and only 6 from Canada. That's 80% American. Even in the original 6, we only had 2. And many of the lower leagues follow what the NHL does.

If anything, I think the game in the States is more raw and traditional. It's up here in Canada that we seem to be always selecting safety over excitement, turning it into a powderpuff game.

Hockey really doesn't have any interest in protecting players though. If they did, they would go back to SOFT padding for equipment, instead of rock hard armor. The only pieces of equipment that need to be hard are the cup, shinpads, and helmet. And none of them are likely to hurt someone ELSE. But it's the rock-hard plastic plating on shoulder pads and elbow pads that are causing the injuries. We never used to have that when I was playing. And except for one year I think when I was 7, I played full-contact the entire time (since I started when I was 5).

If they truly want to lessen injuries, make shoulder/elbow pads mandatory soft padding.

I agree with the equipment thing 100% But you couldnt be more wrong about your first paragraph about hockey being more raw in the U.S. enough said on that ..

I am sick of TSN hockey constantly talking about the change in the game.. should we do this.. should we do that!??!?! its down right annoying. There was nothing wrong with hockey to begin with .... what a sad bloody joke... big fat Mackenzie and others like him trying to get there name on the game....

[hockeyfan]

Canuck311 -- three years ago, I'd agree with your opinion on US vs Canada styles. And I actually think it's changed primarily in Ontario since then, fueled immensely by King David (Branch). The OHL carries a lot of weight, as minor hockey tends to emulate then rules-wise. And people like Bob McKenzie, who has a largely watched pulpit, are a big contributor too. I think the average fan in Canada (not the elitists) still loves the true, raw game. The problem is, many of us are finding it harder and harder to find that game anymore with all the overkill rules.

[Canuck311]

David Branch :thumbdown::weird::angry2::cursing:


Its about greed and people trying to stamp their name on the game.. a total joke.

[hockeyfan]

I forgot to add -- I agree some of the TSN crew has become advocates of too much change (in my opinion, anyway). McKenzie is the main one. I do enjoy Pierre McGuire, Craig MacTavish, Bobby Clarke, James Duthie and others.

But nothing matches Hockey Night in Canada as a package -- still the gold standard if you ask me. Don Cherry speaks for the average fan -- sometimes I disagree (for example, I love goal celebrations), but more often than not, he says what I'm thinking. I'm a huge Ron Maclean fan. PJ Stock, Kelly Hrudey, Scott Oake, et al, are all great.

Roy Macgregor wrote an elitist article in the Globe and Mail a few weeks ago called An HNIC paradox, bashing everything that makes the show and the sport great. I find the Globe generally has good journalism, without obvious bias either way on most issues, but this article was very frustrating to read.

Related...I feel we are lucky to have great TV coverage for the Dogs with Steve Clark, Ed Burkholder, and Al Galloway. Some of the best in the business if you ask me!!

[hockeyfan]

I totally agree!! Branch tries to be the hero who brought respect back to the game. First of all, I think it's the same as ever -- 19 times out of 20, a guy lets up on someone in a vulnerable position. And it's all about Dave. He takes a day to make a knee-jerk (emphasis on the latter half) reaction to change the rules significantly, but it takes him a week to decide on a suspension. Of course, Dave has to make the media tour to self-grandize and poll the media to see what decision will get him the most kudos from Bob McKenzie, Damian Cox, Roy Macgregor, and the likes of them. It's all about Dave, and that's one reason why a new commissioner is desperately needed.

[AlphaDog]

I agree with the equipment thing 100% But you couldnt be more wrong about your first paragraph about hockey being more raw in the U.S. enough said on that ..

I am sick of TSN hockey constantly talking about the change in the game.. should we do this.. should we do that!??!?! its down right annoying. There was nothing wrong with hockey to begin with .... what a sad bloody joke... big fat Mackenzie and others like him trying to get there name on the game....

Of the semi-pro and minor-pro leagues I've seen down there, and the way teams like Atlanta, Nashville, etc.. have promoted their new teams.. it's VERY pro-fighting down there. Up here we've gone more towards a pro-safety way of doing things.

The league needs to take a look at what's actually causing injuries. It's all the hard equipment. Change it back to soft-padding, and allow more hitting, and take out all the new hitting calls, and it'll be much more excitement. 'Just like old'style hockey :thumbsup: