Sunday night saw two counts of disappointment for Cardiff Devils’ fans;
after two hard fought games, the Coventry Blaze stripped the Devils of four
crucial challenge cup points.
Unfortunately, the blunders did not end at the final buzzer.
Tension rose during the third, with Devils’ forward Max Birbraer being
assessed for a match penalty, after a check to the head on Blaze defenseman
Benn Olson, at 12.26. For this Birbraer
received an automatic five match ban, and was thrown out of the game. The Elite League Disciplinary Council
have confirmed this ban and ruled that it cannot be appealed.
As the conflict escalated after the final buzzer, during the tradition
team handshakes, Birbraer was awarded an addition match penalty for leaving the
dressing room after being thrown out of the game and rejoining the action on
the ice, earning himself, originally, an extra game ban. However, on deliberation, the
Disciplinary Council have ruled that leaving the dressing room constitutes an
automatic three match ban, increasing Birbraer’s total ban to eight
matches. As with number 23’s
original match penalty, the Cardiff Devils Organisation cannot appeal against
the ruling.
Fan favourite Devin Didiomete of the Cardiff Devils also received a
match ban in all the action. After
receiving a fighting major and being escorted off the ice, Didiomete came to
the defense of his bench coach, Neil Francis, and rejoined the altercation. This led to him being assessed for leaving
the dressing room, resulting in a three match ban that has been confirmed by
the Elite League. As with
Birbraer’s penalties, Didiomete cannot appeal against this ruling.
With two of their power forwards out, Cardiff did not need any more
misfortune. Unfortunately, bench
coach Neil Francis has been included in the penalised and been given a
match/game penalty for travesty in the game, leading to a one match ban. In addition to this, the Elite League
have extended Francis’ ban by four games, his total ban lasting over five
games.
So, in total, the Welsh side will lose Birbraer for eight games,
Didiomete for three and Francis for five, putting the Devils at an extreme
disadvantage over the course of the following games.
On the other hand, after being at the centre of the controversy and
engaging in an extremely unnecessary exchange with a Cardiff fan, who has now
had his game privileges revoked for the remainder of the 2012/2013 season and all following seasons until 2017, was
assessed a match penalty for incident with a spectator. It has been decided the penalty is
unjustified, therefore has been removed from Olson’s records and no further
action will be taken.
Coventry received no other match/game penalties or bans during the
event.
In addition to all bans and penalties mentioned above, the Elite League
are further reviewing incidents that took place off-ice on Sunday night and
will present their findings and a further statement in due course. For comments from the Elite League on
the penalties awarded, click on the link below to go to the official statement:
To view any and all statements made by the Cardiff Devils’ Organisation,
click the links below:
