Something needs to be done about checking from behind in the B.C. Hockey League, says Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ governor, Ron Paulson.
Paulson planned to bring up the subject at the league governors’ meetings this week, after the Bulldogs lost their second player to a check from behind.
“I’m going to have a talk with the discipline committee. There has to be some consideration for some changes for how the adjudication of discipline is handled.”
Bulldogs’ 20-year-old alternate captain Malik Kaila’s junior hockey career ended when he was checked into the boards and broke two vertebrae in his neck before Christmas. Then last week Brayden Martin suffered a broken thumb after being hit from behind.
In both cases the offending player received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. In Kaila’s case, the player also received a four-game suspension. In Martin’s, the player received a two-game suspension.
“This is a question of the over-arching issue of discipline and deterrent.”
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