Suspensions

Ok, first off, I am a fan blogger and my opinion is separate from that of the teams, so the following is mine  and is not endorsed by the team.

Let's talk suspensions.... both of them. It seems that the league, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, wants to see the Ghostriders win this series. Why you ask? Well the league dished out a three-game suspension to Darren Martin and Eric Buckley.

Martin was suspended for a 'staged' fight in the last game of the year. A staged fight, doesn't that imply both parties were willing, maybe even consenting, combatants? I think that is different from other fights where sometimes there is a victim. So let's give them three games for being two players who want to fight and made sure it was safe to do so. The team captain missed game one, and will miss two and three.

The league then suspended Eric Buckley for three games after game one of the series. Yes, I get it, he went into the goalie while trying to deflect the puck. This is the KIJHL playoffs! Expect players to crash the net for a deflection. One game, maybe even two I would understand, but THREE! Has it not crossed the leagues mind that Logan-Hill may have over sold it? He didn't leave the game with an injury, he continued to play, despite his dramatic snow-angel after the collision. So now Buckley will miss games two, three, and four. He had three points in the first game, adding to his seven points against the Ghostriders in eight games.

The league has in a sense taken out one of Kimberley's better defencemen, and has sidelined a talented forward. So for games two and three, the Nitro's will be short two key role players.

Way to make your stamp on the series KIJHL, in your attempt to determine the outcome. Way to go. I hope the Nitro's prove you wrong and shove this right back at you.