By now you must have heard Michael Liambas has been suspended by the OHL for the entire year.
In making the announcement as the result of the review, Commissioner David Branch stated that…”players must understand they shall be held accountable for their actions. We must all work towards improving the level of respect players have towards opposing players and the game in general”.
Now I have heard second hand information from someone who knew someone who spoke to Liambas after the meeting with David Branch. Basically Branch told Liambas he was going 60 miles per hour in a 45 speed limit.
To me this doesn’t make any sense. If I was a coach, I would want my players to give 100 percent when they are on the ice. Do think when a player can give “Well, coach I didn’t want to finish my check because I am worried that I will be suspended,” as an excuse? He will find himself on the pine.
I hope David Branch does what the University of Oregon did today with LeGarrette Blount. The running back was suspended for punching a player after the game. The team gave into the public pressure and suspended him for the rest of the year. After a few weeks, the team instead suspended him indefinitely after they realize the punishment was harsh. Today they reinstated him.
Both LeGarrette Blount and Michael Liambas are in their final eligibility in their respective sports. In both cases, the victim put themselves in the wrong position. It doesn’t mean their actions were right and each deserved to suspended.
I hope Branch rethinks his decision because I don’t think Michael Liambas wants his last competitive on ice memory to be this.
What will Branch do on this hit?
