OHL player gets season ban for hit

Knee jerk reaction which seems to be the norm lately for David Branch. While devasting result, this was not a dirty hit. As long as the OHL allows players to compete as young as 14 with 20/21 year old overagers, you will have vast size and strength differences

They have to be 16 to play in the O. They're drafted when 15.

what a joke, its HOCKEY not "cry like a bitch when you dont know how to properly take a hit and turn into the boards causing your own injuries......ockey"

John Tavares played as a 14 year old, as did Robert Gordon Orr (OHA preceeded the O as we know it)

He was drafted when he was 14 under the "exceptional player" clause allowing that to happen one year sooner.
Currently, the OHL does not allow any player under 15 to be drafted but the league didn't want to risk losing 14-year-old John Tavares to a rival league, such as the United States Hockey League. The OHL's draft is in June.

The Western Hockey League has a full draft of 14-year-olds, but they're permitted to play just five games as a 15-year-old, then a full season at 16.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League drafts 15-year-olds.

That's a statemet from someone that doesn't understand the rules of the game. A hit from behind is the fault of the checker....ALWAYS. Players delivering body checks must excercise care enough to be able to abort the check if the target becomes vulnerable.

That said, this was not a Match Penalty. I've been a level 3 referee for a very long time and I've officiated thousands of hockey games. The proper call that should have been made is a major for checking from behind. It certainly was dangerous and warrants a suspension, but there was no intent to injure. This suspension is way out of line with past practise for similar hits. Then again, Branch has always held the philosophy that suspensions should be equal to time injured. That's not such a bad idea, but they should make that policy before they start administering it.

That's a statemet from someone that doesn't understand the rules of the game. A hit from behind is the fault of the checker....ALWAYS. Players delivering body checks must excercise care enough to be able to abort the check if the target becomes vulnerable.

That said, this was not a Match Penalty. I've been a level 3 referee for a very long time and I've officiated thousands of hockey games. The proper call that should have been made is a major for checking from behind. It certainly was dangerous and warrants a suspension, but there was no intent to injure. This suspension is way out of line with past practise for similar hits. Then again, Branch has always held the philosophy that suspensions should be equal to time injured. That's not such a bad idea, but they should make that policy before they start administering it.


Ha I have played the game for 13 years so don't spew shit about the rules, He was not hit from behind read the article.

13 years Whoa!!!! (LOL), I am impressed at your lengthy resume! Please inform us as to what ails this game oh great one.

the lack of hitting is a joke to be honest

I don't need to read anyting 'cause I saw the play. It was a hit from behind. You may have played the game for a hundred years, but you obviously don't know the rulebook.

I don't need to read anyting 'cause I saw the play. It was a hit from behind. You may have played the game for a hundred years, but you obviously don't know the rulebook.

If you think this is a hit from behind, you need your eyes checked. If anything the player turns as the hit is being delivered, but its not from behind



Oh and feel free to look for me on the ice at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, ill be the one in the stripes.

I don't need to read anyting 'cause I saw the play. It was a hit from behind. You may have played the game for a hundred years, but you obviously don't know the rulebook.

If you think this is a hit from behind, you need your eyes checked. If anything the player turns as the hit is being delivered, but its not from behind



Oh and feel free to look for me on the ice at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, ill be the one in the stripes.

Prison stripes

well yeah...what were you thinking I meant?

If you don't think that's a hit from behind, you're not an official. That's exactly the sort of hit from behind that has been a rule emphasis for officials at every re-cert clinic over the past decade. Ergo, you are full of shit.