Roughly two weeks after the Canadian Junior Hockey League made the ruling to hand out misconduct penalties for fighting starting in the 2014-2015 season, the junior hockey world has been given another example of why this action is being taken.
On Saturday November 9th, during a game between the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers and Prince George Spruce Kings, a linesman, while doing his job to break up a fight between Vipers forward T.J. Dumonceaux and the Spruce Kings Christian Weidauer was knocked silly by a punch thrown by Dumonceaux.
A beauty right to the chin of Linesman Ryan Dawson. Knocked cold and on the ice bleeding, Dawson was treated by on site medical staff and then went to the hospital for stitches.
Unfortunately, referee and linesman injuries take place more often in these situations than is publicized. It is not only the players that place themselves at risk of injury in fights, but it is these critical personnel that are in harm’s way.
T.J. Dumonceaux was ejected from the game after receiving a misconduct along with a game misconduct for his part in the incident. But shouldn’t both combatants have been held responsible? Once a referee or linesman steps in, are both players not responsible for their actions?
And what is the deal with these players dancing around trying to fight with their sticks still in their hands? Throwing punches with sticks in their hands could have easily lead to someone using a stick during the fight.
This is just another example of two players who have no clue about how, or when a fight should take place. Two players with so little self-control that both should have been ejected and both should receive supplemental discipline.
Joe Hughes
