Deeside D1 Dragons' Damarni James (Photo by Keith & Jenny Davies)
D1 Dragons’ Damarni James missed the weekend games against Billingham after
being handed a 4 game suspension by England Ice Hockey’s disciplinary panel.
The decision follows an incident in the first period of the away game at
Telford on 14th March.
James was given a 5 minute penalty for fighting by the referee at the
time but, after a video review, the Department of Player Safety has given him a
three game ban for fighting plus one game for exceeding 10 disciplinary points.
They observed: “Fighting an unwilling combatant. Player was the aggressor, removing
his gloves before throwing multiple punches.”
The
England Ice Hockey Department of Player Safety (DOPS) has a system which
involves the accumulation of disciplinary points for committing offences and
receiving penalties prior to, during and after games.
When
a player or team has accrued a certain number of points – according to a fixed
scale – sanctions such as suspensions or fines can be imposed.
James had already received a 2-game ban earlier in the season following
an incident in the cup semi final against Blackburn in January. This latest suspension takes him over the
threshold of 10 disciplinary points, which has led to the additional game ban.
James will also miss the home and away play off quarter final games this
weekend but will be eligible for selection for the semi finals, should the
Dragons get that far.
Telford’s Joshua Hustwick has also been given a 4 game ban for an
illegal check to the head which sparked the incident. He was given 2 minutes for cross checking, 2
minutes for roughing and 5 minutes for fighting at the time.
The DOPS further commented: “Player delivered a two-handed cross-check to a stationary opponent
behind the net. Hands were high, with follow-through, and the head/neck area
was first point of contact, recklessly endangering his opponent.”
Dragons’ popular enforcer Will Harper got a 2 minute penalty for
roughing and 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fracas but has
escaped any further sanction.
You can see the whole incident unfold from 41.30 onwards on the match
video HERE
