The OHL hit on Ben Fanelli

[MapleLeaf]

http://news.therecord.com/Sports/article/624864

Fanelli was airlifted to Hamilton General on Friday night with skull and facial fractures he suffered when he was checked into the end boards during a game against the Erie Otters at the Aud.

Googling "Ben Fanelli" will allow you to watch the devastating body check on YouTube. My questions:

1) Was it clean? I feel it was. Fanelli turns at the last minute in order to pass in the other direction, but it seemed like a clean check. No charging, Michael Liambas didn't leave his feet, no stick involved...

2) Should Michael Liambas have been suspended (for the rest of the season or not)?

3) Is this a freak accident, or does hockey need to overhaul its rules on body contact?

[smackmac]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

1) Was it clean? I feel it was. Fanelli turns at the last minute in order to pass in the other direction, but it seemed like a clean check. No charging, Michael Liambas didn't leave his feet, no stick involved...

It looked like a clean hit to me.

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

2) Should Michael Liambas have been suspended (for the rest of the season or not)?

Over a clean hit? No. No suspension.

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

3) Is this a freak accident, or does hockey need to overhaul its rules on body contact?

I think it's a freak accident. Hockey is a dangerous sport. Stuff happens.

[Jahungo]

It doesn't actually look like a particularly huge hit to me, actually. A hard hit, to be sure, but nothing that isn't seen in every hockey game. I think it's mostly really bad luck about the way his head was positioned and happened to hit the glass.

[MapleLeaf]

Originally Posted by Jahungo

It doesn't actually look like a particularly huge hit to me, actually. A hard hit, to be sure, but nothing that isn't seen in every hockey game. I think it's mostly really bad luck about the way his head was positioned and happened to hit the glass.

And that his visor cracked on the boards and that his helmet came off and that he was unconscious after hitting the glass so his unhelmeted head hit the ice.

Just really sad. And Liambas has made it abundantly clear that he is devastated by it.

[MapleLeaf]

Here's a better article that details much more of the story and its aftermath: http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...key-world?bn=1

"It's terrible. I have really mixed emotions about everything," he said Thursday. "First and foremost I feel terrible for Ben, for what he and his family are going through. It doesn't matter whether I was right or wrong or deserved to be suspended. I did that to him. I put that 16-year-old boy in hospital."

Politicians? THAT is called taking responsibility.

[TwoGuyswithaHat]

In regards to the season long suspension, I think part of it was based on past behaviour. If you head to YouTube, you can see Limbas making a dirty hit on John Tavares when Tavares was playing for London.

[Gibbie]

I agree it's a clean hit. Led with his shoulder, stayed on his feet, wasn't even skating when he threw the check, just used his momentum. It was just a freak accident. Fanelli turned oddly just before the hit and got caught in the worst possilbe way. It happens, not only in hockey but in every sport. I'm glad to read that Fanelli is recovering and I hope Liambas gets some help too.

Gibbie