TORONTO – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that Niagara IceDogs player Grayson Tiller has been suspended for five games as a result of actions in a regular season game on November 28th at Kitchener. Tiller was assessed a Match Penalty for Kicking 5:30 into the third period.
The OHL Department of Player Safety has ruled that Tiller will be assessed a five-game suspension based off the following rationale:
- This is not a hockey play – the use of the skate blade to contact an opponent is a serious violation of the rules of hockey
- The Niagara player was not off-balance or falling, video displays that he is in full control of his actions
- Video footage of the incident does not display any provocation by the Kitchener player that would incite such an action from the Niagara player
- If this action had been directed to an unprotected portion of the opponent’s body, the result could have been a significant injury
- Strong consideration was given to the fact that this particular player has played 255 regular season games without ever being suspended or assessed a major penalty (outside of fighting majors)
Grayson Tiller is eligible to return to the IceDogs’ lineup on Sunday, December 14th when they host the North Bay Battalion.
