OHL Hit

[Rivalred 630]

Any recent updates on the poor kid?

[Guest Four]

Any recent updates on the poor kid?

http://www.kitchenerrangers.com/main.asp?p...asp?newsID=1606

Kitchener, On: November 7, 2009

The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club has been informed that Ben Fanelli was released from Hamilton General Hospital late last night.

"This is obviously an emotional day for the Fanelli family, our organization and community and really for the entire Ontario Hockey League's players and fans. It is still very early in Ben's recovery that will include out-patient treatments at the hospital along with additional supporting treatments at home" stated Rangers C.O.O., Steve Bienkowski.

Ben's mother, Susan Fanelli conveyed the following, "the support from the Kitchener Rangers organization has been wonderful. We are so appreciative it is hard to express."

Restrictions on visiting will remain in effect.

The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club and the Fanelli family ask that the family's past requests for privacy continue to be honoured.

Any future information will continue to be released through the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club.

We again thank everyone for their support to both Ben and his family.

Edited November 7, 2009 by Four

[Carman 387]

Glad to hear he's been released. Hope the best on the rest of his recovery.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Toronto Star . Edited November 8, 2009 by cusimano_brothers

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

Toronto Star .

What a stupid column to actually be printed and posted anywhere. While I'm sure there are parents that would make some of those comments to their kids, he has wrapped up the whole "s***ty hockey parent" thing into a composite person. One kid doing everything in that article won't last long. Spread those items around a league and it's called life and choice. Just because people play with the traits pointed out in the article, does not mean they are forced to play that way, by a parent or anyone else.

The writer's sarcastic abilities notwithstanding, this is the most retarded article I've read in some time. This was a clean hit, plain and simple. Everything else is smoke and mirrors. Debate all you want about the kid turning his back, the injury, the sizes of the two people involved, but the hit was clean. The fact that there was an unfortunate ending to the hit is the only reason it's getting attention. If that kid would have gotten up, it would be a highlight reel hit.

[Carman 387]

Toronto Star .

Haha, what a bad attempt at sarcasm, how the hell did this guy get a job. That looks like something I'd write, and I'm a just a fan.

This quote stuck out to me.

Don't hit from behind. But don't turn the wrong way when someone is going to hit you from behind, right? Because then it's your fault. Got it?

Does he understand what amateur hockey has done to prevent checking from behind? Does he even watch hockey? Wow this guy would be an absolutely amazing forum troll...

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

HNIC / Coach's Corner .

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

An update; from HNIC / Inside Hockey .

[seeinred 1,488]

Now I really want to know what his first words were when he woke up.

[Inultus 12]

Now I really want to know what his first words were when he woke up.

"Damn I wish I'd kept my f'in head up!"

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

There is a small controversy regarding a similar hit in another OHL game, but with a different result and a different "verdict"; from Toronto Star :

...

"There was no call on the play, there was no injury on the play. (MacQueen) had simply sent the video in so that we could see it," said OHL commissioner David Branch, who added there would be no suspension.

"If there is a situation where there is no penalty, the only way it can be reviewed is if an injury occurs," said Branch of the league's policy.

When asked about the eerie similarity between Sullivan's hit and the one that put Fanelli in the hospital, Branch was mum.

"I don't want to comment on it," said Branch. "There was no penalty on the play, fortunately there was no injury on the play."

...

Mr. Branch's latest favourite breakfast: waffles.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN :

Michael Liambas is in trouble again.

The 20-year old, who earlier in the season was suspended by the OHL for a hit on 16-year-old Ben Fanelli that fractured Fanelli's skull and orbital bone, has been suspended by the IHL for another hitting from behind incident.

Liambas, who was signed by the Bloomington PrairieThunder of the International Hockey League on December 2nd , was suspended for five games for a hit on Muskegon Lumberjacks defenceman Jason Lawmaster on December 29th.

The hit ruptured Lawmaster's spleen and the player spent four days at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

No penalty was called on the play.

...

And look who the commissioner is.

[Hiei 192]

From TSN :

And look who the commissioner is.

Eh. Bloomington loves him. He'll be back in the I.

[Inultus 12]

"I think it was a fluke thing," Lawmaster told the Chronicle. "We were both falling, and I don't think he was trying to blow up my spleen."

I think it's retarded to suspend someone when there was not even a penalty called and even the "victim" doesn't think it was a dirty hit. I hate this crap about suspending based on the result, not the actual action.

[seeinred 1,488]

Two things:

It's downright impressive to send 2 dudes to the hospital in one season

and

Lawmaster is an amazing name for a defenseman.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I would have loved to see the guy who lacerated my spleen (on a hit I was making) get suspended just cause.

[Carman 387]

Michael Liambas is quickly becoming one of my favorite non-NHL players.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From Toronto Star :

The Maple Leafs are giving banished junior Michael Liambas a chance to resume his hockey career.

On Oct. 30, 2009, Liambas was playing for the Erie Otters when he drove Kitchener’s Ben Fanelli into the boards, causing a serious head injury. Liambas, now 21, was given a season-long suspension by CHL commissioner David Branch that ended his junior career.

The Leafs invited Liambas to their rookie camp, which begins Saturday in London, Ont.

...

Hasn't he been punished enough?

[Nightfall 871]

From Toronto Star :

Hasn't he been punished enough?

There are some mistakes that we never get done paying for.

I have played hockey for a long time, and I can tell you that while it may have not been a clean hit, it certainly could have been avoided. Liambas hit a guy in a vulnerable position causing an injury. I too think the punishment was quite harsh, and there are others who have been hurt just as bad without that much punishment.

Look at the Lemieux hit on Draper. Exposed position? Hit to the head from behind? Injury? All these things are in common with this hit. Lemieux got less of a suspension.

[Echolalia 2,961]

In the end it all comes down to respecting the opponent. Like many hockey fans, I would hate to see all these consequential rules, fines, and suspensions be put into place to limit the parameters of a hit, but if you're going to play in a league that allows a variety of physical contact you should at least be smart about it and remember that hitting is a way of removing the player from the puck or as a way of intimidating the opponent, not a way to try to deliberately injure the opponent or end his career.

If his head is down or he's admiring a pass, give it to him. Just don't target the head.

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

From Toronto Star :

Hasn't he been punished enough?

wow going to try out for the laughs? more punishment. when are they gonna let him be!!!!

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From Toronto Star :

...

Mike Liambas, with the Leafs on a tryout, dropped the gloves with Zach Sill after Sill knocked Dale Mitchell head-first into boards. Liambas’s tryout caused a stir. Liambas had been banned from the OHL for an ugly hit on Kitchener’s Ben Fanelli last season. But the crowd loved him.

“Feels good,” said Liambas of the crowd’s reaction. “Just sticking up for a teammate.”

...

[newfy 695]

From Toronto Star :

I hope he makes it, he plays with an edge but that was a bulls*** suspension last season and he shouldn't have gotten kicked out for the season

[Louisville 112]

Definitely a charging call at least, look at the amount of strides before the hit.

[newfy 695]

Definitely a charging call at least, look at the amount of strides before the hit.

A charging call isn't worth a life time ban in a jr a league