SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) has suspended four players for their actions at the end of Saturday night’s playoff game between the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals and Campbellton Tigers.
Capitals forward and team captain TJ Shea and the Tigers’ Francis Thibeault each received two games after picking up fighting majors and double game misconducts. Caps forward Kallum Muirhead will also sit out two games after receiving a match penalty for cross checking while Campbellton goaltender Tristan Gray, who also received a minor penalty for leaving the crease, will miss one game for a high-sticking major penalty. All of the penalties were assessed at the 20-minute mark of the third period.
The Tigers won the game 3-2 before over 2,600 fans at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division final against the top-seeded Capitals. The Caps now face a must-win situation on home ice at Eastlink Arena in Summerside on Monday at 8 p.m.
There was some confusion on the penalty assessed to Gray as it was originally listed as a match penalty on the copy of the game sheet the Caps received after the contest. The league website also listed it as a match penalty on Saturday night, but it was changed to a major on Sunday morning.
MHL vice-president Tom Allaby ruled on the suspensions, which were all the minimum number of games for the infractions based on the league’s code of discipline.
“Tom decided that it was warranted as per regulations and our minimum standards and being consistent throughout the year with his suspensions,” said MHL interim president Dave Ritcey, who noted Allaby did “due diligence” in coming to a decision.
Ritcey added Allaby talked to the referee about Gray’s penalty call and the official confirmed he changed it to a major. Ritcey noted the reports to the league on the incident listed Gray’s penalty as a major and not a match.
Along with the on-ice officials, Ritcey added Allaby talked to New Brunswick referee-in-chief Mike McMullin, who was in attendance at the game, along with both general managers – Caps’ Pat McIver and Tigers’ Greg Leland – before making his decision.
The Journal Pioneer attempted to contact McMullin for an explanation on Monday, but has not heard back from him.
Here’s a look at what the suspended players have done this series:
– Gray has earned three wins and stopped 110 of 116 shots.
– Thibeault has one goal – the game-winning marker in Game 3 – and has logged big minutes on the team’s blue-line.
– Shea, named the first star in the Caps’ 4-1 win in Game 2, has three points in the four games.
– Muirhead has one assist.
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