College Hockey:
Atlantic Hockey suspends Canisius forward Grazen seven additional games

USCHO Staff Report • Nov. 1, 2012

Atlantic Hockey announced Thursday that Canisius sophomore forward Matthew Grazen has received an additional seven-game suspension for a checking from behind penalty on Air Force forward George Michalke and subsequent game disqualification incurred on Oct. 25 against Air Force.

Grazen served the automatic one-game suspension for the disqualification on Oct. 28.

“Canisius College strongly disagrees with the supplemental discipline imposed by Atlantic Hockey on Matthew Grazen,” read a Canisius-issued press release. “Following college hockey precedent, a two-game suspension for a checking from behind penalty would have been appropriate for a first-time offender. We were given the chance to appeal and have had our voice heard, however the Atlantic Hockey Executive Committee felt differently. Matthew Grazen is an outstanding student-athlete has been a great representative of Canisius College and we are disappointed in the final outcome.”

Grazen will miss Canisius’ series against Clarkson (Nov. 3-4), games against Robert Morris (Nov. 9), Rochester Institute of Technology (Nov. 10) and Niagara (Nov. 16), as well as the series at Air Force (Feb. 15-16).

Michalke is out for this week’s Air Force home games against Holy Cross because of a head injury, an Air Force spokesman said. There is no word when he will be able to return to action.

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lmg6841
Considering Madolora got a 5 game suspension last season for filling out some paperwork incorrectly, this doesn’t seem all that insane.
Trey
Grazen should be suspended at least as many games as Michalke is out. Canisius’ response makes me despise them more.
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com Goon
Is there any video on this hit?
Trey is an idiot
Considering Air Force hasn’t made a big deal about this, I think it’s fair to reserve judgement until there’s video.
- Trey
  I’ve seen the video.
  - Joe
    Link?
- Trey
  Here’s what Air Force’s coach said:
  Air Force coach Frank Serratore characterized Grazen’s penalty as a “careless, vicious, dangerous hit” and called for swift action from conference administrators.
  “That’s a hit that could paralyze someone,” Serratore said. “Players have just got to be aware. You just simply — you can’t do that. You have a guy from behind in a compromising position, you know, how can you do that to somebody?
  “It makes you sick, and that’s all I can tell you,” he continued. “That’s one that our commissioner and our referee chief are going to have to look at, because in my opinion, the message has to be sent that [when] you play like that, you’re not gonna play. If that was my player that hit someone like that, I would expect and want the same. I’ve got two sons playing college hockey. We’ve got to protect our players. We’ve got to protect our kids.”
Scott Reed
They suspended him untill after the rematch with Air Force, I think that make s a lot of sense.

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