DOPS SUSPENDS STEELERS’ FITZGERALD FOR FOUR GAMES
Player: Zack Fitzgerald (Sheffield Steelers #28)
Game: Belfast Giants v Sheffield Steelers - 5/1/18
Incident: Match Penalty - Checking to the Head
With the opposing team in possession of the puck and entering the attacking zone, a check occurred which was deemed Checking to the Head or Neck.
After further review of the incident, supplementary discipline is required.
With Belfast Giants #6 Spiro Goulakos gaining possession of the puck and entering the attacking zone, he has an opposing player to his left-hand side and an opposing player directly in front of him.
For Goulakos, the natural action is a 1-on-1 battle with Sheffield Steelers #6 Scott Aarssen, which is primarily where Goulakos’ attention would be.
Aarssen plays the puck, makes a legal play and has engaged Goulakos in a 1-on-1 play. It is also taken into consideration Goulakos is in a natural and athletic skating stance and has no cause or probable reason to expect contact to his head.
The reason for supplementary disciple for Sheffield Steelers #28 Zack Fitzgerald is for a Check to the Head of an opposing player.
Fitzgerald is considered the 3rd man-in to a one-on-one battle, which puts the onus on Fitzgerald to have a regard for the puck and, in the event of body contact, make sure the contact occurs in a legal manner.
The check delivered by Fitzgerald was a ‘predatory like’ check.
The purpose of the check was not to separate the puck from the puck carrier, it was to separate the puck carrier from the game.
Fitzgerald loaded up before the check by going into a low body position to elevate up and into the opposing player, head on, to create unrequired additional force.
Most importantly, Fitzgerald extended his arms - primarily his right arm - up and away from his body to make direct contact to the head of the opposing player.
Fitzgerald does not have to make this check. He had the possibility of making legal contact and took advantage of an unsuspecting player.
For an open ice check, it is considered recklessly endangering an opposing player and not a legal part of the game.
The incident is considered a Category 2 offence – ‘Reckless’: A deliberate and/or dangerous action with no concern for the result, with a conscious action to provoke, through intent and a wilful purpose. Injury is not the determining factor, but can be considered as influential means to the decision.
The key points of this incident are:
• Direct contact with the opposing player’s head.
• It is considered a predatory like check
• It is deemed avoidable
• The action is considered dangerous with an intent to hurt.
Based on all of this, the Elite League Department of Player Safety has suspended Zack Fitzgerald for 4 games.
