Courteau maintains 10-game suspension to Matt Nickerson
Published on December 18, 2004 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) News Release
LONGUEUIL, Saturday December 18th 2004 (QMJHL) â The Commissioner of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League, Mr Gilles Courteau, maintained the 10-game suspension issued to Victoriaville Tigres defenceman Matt Nickerson, following incidents that occured on Friday December 3rd against the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
With 21 seconds to go in the third period of that game, won 5-3 by the Voltigeurs, Mr Nickerson came back to the Tigres' bench perimeter, after having gone back to the locker room on order from game referee Stéphane Tremblay, and made reprehensible gestures towards players from the opposing team.
On Friday December 10th, the Prefect of Discipline of the QMJHL, Mr Maurice Filion, announced an 11-game suspension to Mr Nickerson, including 10 games for coming back to the players' bench, an automatic suspension in conformity with article 66 q) of the League's Rules book, and one additional game for the gestures made towards opposing players.
The management of the Tigres appealed the 10-game suspension, questioning the notion of «players bench», but not the additional game. The hearing was held on Wednesday December 15th.
After having read the referees' reports and reviewing the videotape of the incidents, Mr Courteau concluded that Mr Nickerson had, in effect, come back from the team's locker room, with his skates on, and stood in the perimeter reserved to the Tigres' team while the game was going on.
« The notion of âplayers bench' can not be interpreted as strictly as suggested by the representatives of the Victoriaville Tigres team, explained Mr Courteau.
« It is not a question of only identifying the piece of equipment players use to sit on, added the Commissioner, but that notion must also include, obligatorily, the space allowed not only to the players, but also to the coaches, trainers, equipment managers, including the area where are placed the sticks that could be used by the players. »
In rendering his decision, Mr Courteau also took into account the fact that Mr Filion had imposed, in a recent decision, an automatic 10-game suspension to André Vincent, of the Voltigeurs, who had also violated provisions or article 66 q) of the League's Rules book.
« The League, the Prefect of Discipline and the Commissioner have the obligation to treat the League's players and teams equitably and in respect with jurisprudence », reminded Mr Courteau.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2004
- Bowman to perform Mooseheads Coaching Seminar - Halifax Mooseheads
- Courteau maintains 10-game suspension to Matt Nickerson - QMJHL
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