Wolf Pack defenseman Vladimir Denisov and forward Brandon Sugden have both been handed suspensions by AHL Commissioner Dave Andrews for their actions in the game against Lake Erie Friday night. Apparently the league felt that Denisov went head hunting on Monster center Marty Sertich.
Sugden is receiving his suspension for reacting to center Matt Hendricks cheap shot and “Hulking out” on defenseman Wes O’Neill and hitting Hendricks late. If the league wants to call out Sugden for his retaliation that’s fine, but where’s the suspension to Hendricks for taking a clear cheap and dangerous hit…to the head mind you…of Brandon Sugden? Is this an issue of, “Well he’s the enforcer and so he should be able to control himself in those situations?”
When Howlings saw the release that suspensions were handed out to the Wolf Pack we fully expected it to be on Devin DiDiomete’s late third period hit on Manitoba’s Zack Fitzgerald Wednesday night. The play, which happened behind the Manitoba net, saw DiDiomete put a very hard but clean shoulder-to-shoulder hit that was clearly delivered late and one that will reportedly shelve the Moose Defenseman for four to six weeks. Again, the hit itself was clean, but it was absolutely late. The fact that it was a clean hit and that wasn’t even the call must be the logic as to why that it was passed over, but neither of the other suspensions makes any sense at all.
At the time, Denisov’s play looked like a charging penalty, as it was called, but clearly did not look like he went after Sertich’s head. Sertich didn’t even fall to the ice. Why does that warrant a suspension? As for Sugden, If it was wrong for him to react to a clearly cheap shot, wasn’t it equally wrong for Hendricks to initiate it? Why no suspension there?
We’re firm believers in what’s good for the goose (Pack) is good for the gander (Monster).
Here is the official release:
The American Hockey League today announced that Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Vladimir Denisov has been suspended for four (4) games as a result of his actions in a game vs. Lake Erie on Feb. 13.
Denisov was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 29.1 (supplementary discipline) for delivering a blow to the head of an opponent.
Denisov will miss Hartford's games on Wednesday (Feb. 18) vs. Bridgeport, Friday (Feb. 20) at Lowell, Saturday (Feb. 21) vs. Portland and Sunday (Feb. 22) at Manchester.Also, Hartford Wolf Pack forward Brandon Sugden has been suspended for two (2) games as a result of his actions in the same game.
Sugden was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 29.1 (supplementary discipline).Sugden will miss Hartford's games Wednesday (Feb. 18) vs. Bridgeport and Friday (Feb. 20) at Lowell.
