Elite League officials have released their reasoning for imposing a two-match ban on smooth skating defenceman Gleason Fournier.
The Canadian is ruled out of the Devils team for Wednesday’s Challenge Cup semi-final tie at Sheffield Steelers, having already sat out Sunday’s 3-2 Elite League win against Coventry Blaze.
A statement by the League department of player safety (DOPS) says: “After a turnover by the Cardiff Devils in the attacking zone, Coventry #29 Luke Ferrara retrieved the loose puck to quickly turn up ice into the neutral zone.
“Cardiff #20 Gleason Fournier immediately began a back-checking role.
“By gaining skating speed, Fournier was able to make a poke check, creating a loose puck scenario in the neutral zone.
“The loose puck is travelling towards the side boards, which means we now have both Fournier and Ferrara attempting to make a play for the puck while travelling at a high speed directly at the boards.
“The reason for supplementary discipline is based on the fact that Ferrara did have a regard for the puck, while Fournier did not, which lead to a check that is illegal and dangerous.
“Body checking is a legal act when the purpose is to separate the puck from the puck carrier. It is not an act meant for separating a player not in immediate possession of the puck from the game.
“It was considered by the Department of Player Safety that Ferrara chose a path to the puck which put him in a skating lane at 90 degrees to the boards. This immediately eliminates his possibilities to either go left or right. Ferrara then chose to play the puck and attempted to slow down.
“This was not considered to be the best option available to Ferrara at the time, with other options available to him that could have avoided putting him in a potentially dangerous situation.
“However, the actions of Fournier are deemed dangerous, avoidable and it is considered that Fournier had other options available, which means he takes on greater responsibility during the play as he had the option to deliver the check, but was not forced to do so.
“Immediately after the poke check and well before contact, Fournier focused on the opposing player only, which means he had no regard for the puck, playing the puck or even where the puck exactly is.
“The lack of regard for the puck is easily identifiable at the point where Fournier removes his stick from the ice, removes his left hand from his stick, elevates his stick to hip height and locks his sight line on the opposing player only.
“These points prove he is loaded up and getting ready to deliver a forceful body check a dangerous distance from the boards rather than showing a willingness to skate at an angle to deliver a legal body check.
“The end result is contact above the pant line, from behind delivered through his arms and chest (not shoulder or hip as legal body checks require).
“The delivery of the body check by Fournier forces the upper body of Ferrara to go down and in front of his skates, which propels him dangerously into the boards.
“This incident is considered a Category 2 incident – ‘Reckless’: a deliberate and/or dangerous action with no concern for the result, with a conscious action to provoke, through intent and a wilful purpose. Injury is not the determining factor, but can be considered as influential means to the decision.
The key points of this incident are:
* It was avoidable.
* Fournier showed no regard for the puck.
* Excessive and forceful contact made a dangerous distance from boards
The Department of Player Safety have taken the decision to suspend Gleason Fournier for two games.
Fournier served the first game of his suspension by missing Cardiff’s 3-2 win at Coventry. He sits out Wednesday’s match at Sheffield, but will return to play against Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland.
The title-chasing rivals clash at the SSE Arena, Belfast in back-to-back matches on Friday and Saturday.
For Cardiff Devils match tickets CLICK HERE or CALL 0800 0842 666 to book, while CLICK HERE for the full fixtures list.