College Hockey:
Malone suspended one game for Martin hit

USCHO Staff Report • Nov. 5, 2010

In a statement released by the WCHA on Thursday, the league announced it has issued a one-game suspension to North Dakota forward Brad Malone for his hit on Jesse Martin in the October 30 game against Denver.

Malone’s suspension was determined after a review of the incident under the WCHA’s Supplementary Discipline Policy and Procedures. At the time of the incident, he was given a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct.

Malone will not play in North Dakota’s game on Friday against Minnesota-Duluth. He will eligible to return in Saturday’s game.

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gogofs
Were the referees sanctioned too? I don’t understand how no penalty until you discover an injured player…
Kb_nodak
Martin talks to Malone says hit was clean. No penalty called at the time of the hit although there are 4 people on ice who could have called the penalty if there was one. After they realized Martin was injured without replay they decided it was a charging major. I saw the young man injured and fell bad about the injury. Our thoughts and prayers are with im for a full recovery. The WCHA can not decide to suspend a player each time someone is injured. It was not charging by definition. Again the WCHA is wrong.
hult
KB nodak- in fact only two of the ref’s can call the penalty right away. One of the ref’s was turned around in the corner just feet from the hit and he could not see it. The other ref was likely near the red line and may not have been watching the play as it happened. After the whistle is when the linesman can tell the other officials what happened. Thus the penalty was correctly called after the whistle. How can you say it was not a charge. He took at least a 10 foot run at him and made no attempt to do anything but hit him.
- Crovin
  They can say it wasn’t charging because Malone was coasting when he hit Martin, not striding into the hit, and he never left his feet or raised his elbows before the hit. Since that is the definition of charging, and he did none of it, it’s pretty easy to say it wasn’t charging. It’s very unfortunate that Martin was hurt, but injuries don’t always happen because of penalties or dirty hits. The suspension is an attempt by the WCHA to appear as though they’re doing something to stop injuries, similar to what’s happening with all the fines in the NFL this year. The fact is, injuries happen. It sucks and you never wish it on anybody, but as long as there are contact sports, there will be unfortunate injuries.
Goalie30
It was just an unfortunate play that could happen anytime, anywhere (i.e outdoor hockey rink)…
I saw the play as I was at the game and it appeared clean to me. My heart dropped when he didnt get up and I wish him all the best. I dont however think a suspension was called for. It wasnt intentional! He was looking for a pass and his head was down. It happens
Blarson1957
Until we get these big fast players to quit taking runs at each other players are going to continue get hurt…..Genoway comes to mind and Weers last year for MN……Malone gained no advantage hitting the kid that hard he never even tried to play the puck.
- badgerfan24
  How was that taking a run at a player? Martin had his head down, and lower than usual as he was reaching for the puck that he had semi-lost control of. Martin brought his head lower and Malone made a great hit, with his hands down. If it was a run as you claim, why did no Denver player go after Malone? Hockey players police themselves. If a player gets ran, his teammates immdediately go after the guy that ran him. How come the Denver players kept playing/stood over him after the whistle instead of going after Malone?
  I think it was a great hit. Obviously it is unfortunate that Martin was injured and hopefully he makes a full recovery. But to say Malone ran Martin is flat-out wrong. And as for your last sentence, why would he play the puck instead of eliminating the man? That was a textbook hit off of the boards. He separated his man from the puck and his teammate picked the puck up and took it to the net, as any coach would teach his players to do.
  The WCHA was wrong with the suspension. Is there going to be a suspension on every open ice hit that someone gets hurt? I sure hope not.
  - Laubck
    read the definition of “contact to the head ” penalties and then tell me it was clean
Blindref58
I was watching the game here in Massachusetts (on FXATL) and disagree with any penalty being called on the play. The hit was hard and clean but without intent to injure. Just to separate the man from the puck and keep the pressure on in the attacking zone. I have refereed men’s ice hockey in high school and college for 26 years and have always agreed with conferring with your partner)s) to get the call right. In this case though, I believe all the on ice officials AND the WCHA got it WRONG.
redhawk
I’m sorry, but I’ve watched this hit dozens of times. It was a legal hit, I feel terrible for the injury involved, and I wish the injured player the best/a speedy recovery, but the hit was legal….

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