flyercanuck Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 The London Knights #1 ally when it comes to pretty much anything was at it again when he levied a 15 game suspension to Windsor Spitfire forward Josh Ho-sang for his "hit" on Knights Dman Zach Bell. Ho-sang was given a TWO MINUTE penalty in the game. Watch the video for yourselves. This is an outright joke that Branch can run the league like this.http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/video/index/id/7342ccb05aa73e648a0bf03ae5b453e9 Because the suspension in under 20 games, it isn't reviewable. Though Branch has decided if London is eliminated prior to the Memorial Cup, the 8 game suspension he gave Stolarz for hitting Ho-Sang in the head with his stick, on purpose, CAN be reviewed. I honestly don't think he cares how obvious he makes this crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radoran Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 The comment that "no injury, no suspension" is the really ridiculous part of this. Either an act is suspension-worthy or it isn't. While I believe injury should be a factor in determining length of suspension, I don't believe that the "line" is 0 games or 15 games. That's just insane. That "hit" wasn't suspension-worthy IMO. And the league itself says that there was no intent to injure. And the whole "under 20 games you can't appeal, but we'll review the 8-game suspension later" just stinks to high heaven. You'd never see this sort of travesty in the NCAA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 @radoran I'm sure you know my previous distaste for the way Branch runs the league. From refusing to attend Colts games (even when they're in the finals) to doling out suspensions by injury, jersey colour, or whether it affects the Knights or not (see some of Max Domis headshots and non or short suspensions) The league VP says if there was no injury, there'd be no suspension...WTF??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radoran Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 The league VP says if there was no injury, there'd be no suspension...WTF??? And they clearly say there was no intent. If there's no intent to injure and there wouldn't have been any suspension without the injury, how do they justify giving him 15 games? Bush league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 @radoran Max Domi, of Branchs beloved Knights, got four for this.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWvfUW8N9lI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 FC, I know we have discussed Dave Branch's "interesting" decisions before but I have to say this just left me absolutely speechless. I watched the video without benefit of voice over the first time and just watched the "hit". I could hardly believe this was even reviewed, let alone a 15 game suspension. When I heard the rationale behind the decision I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... Truly, an absolute joke of a decision, almost Colin Campbellesque in its ludicrosity. I doubt that "hit" even gets reviewed in the WHL... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 @EDI-Flyer The guy is a total sham when it comes to being impartial. Zach Hall was taken into the boards worse than that in the first round and there was no suspension handed out...and there shouldn't have been. Not to mention the "hitter" weighs about 165 lbs and the "hittee" is around 230. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 @flyercanuck Yep, all part of Branch's ongoing campaign to make the OHL a non contact league flavoured with a little bit of London favouritism. Read this article and wondered what Bob Duff is smoking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 @EDI-Flyer I already had my laugh for the day and read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I gotta say... I didn't even think that was a penalty. I mean, the player is reaching for the puck and he gets a little push in the back. Yeah okay the injury sucks and it's a real bad luck incident to go into the boards with your leg bending that way, but they were ten feet from the boards and then some so it's not boarding... there is no intent to injure... at WORST you have a weak interference call if I'm misjudging the puck in the blur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 @Polaris922 He got 2 minutes for "holding" on the play. You'd be hard pressed to find a single person not named Hunter who'd agree with a suspension at all, let alone 15 games. I don't even like the Spits but this is an atrocity as far as running a league is concerned. Don't get me started on the suspensions he gave Barrie last year in postseason trying his best to derail the team that had the best chance to beat his London Knights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 @flyercanuckSounds like a real mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 @Polaris922 Mess isn't the word. The sad part is the same guy is commisioner of the entire CHL. And people have been scratching their heads for years on how he handles it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 @Polaris922Mess isn't the word. The sad part is the same guy is commisioner of the entire CHL. And people have been scratching their heads for years on how he handles it.So why don't they remove him from that position? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 @Polaris922 I guess some people (cough The Hunters cough) think he's doing a great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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