Imama Suspended Seven Games

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The Saint John Sea Dogs will be without Bokondji Imama for the remainder of the second round.

The QMJHL announced this afternoon that Imama has been suspended seven games for his hit on Cape Breton’s Tobie Bisson in game four of the second round playoff series on Tuesday night. Imama was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit.

Via the QMJHL website, here is the rationale for the decision:

• The opponent recovered the puck in the left corner of the ice and went around his net to exit his zone.
• The player at fault started from the left side of the ice and headed towards the puck carrier on the other side.
• He finished his hit on the opponent at the height of the face-off dot on the red line of the circle.
• The player at fault traveled a great distance to get to his opponent.
• He accelerated and took several strides without gliding before his hit; he had a lot of speed at impact.
• After completing a pass to a teammate, the opponent was in a vulnerable position at impact.
• Seeing that the opponent was slightly ahead, the player fault stretched forward and hit him with force.
• At the moment of impact, he was propelled shoulder and head first into the boards.
• Several factors were considered in the decision-making:
• Distance traveled (charging)
• Speed ​​at impact
• Distance between the boards and the player at contact (boarding)
• The force used on the opponent
• The player at fault has the responsibility, when a player is in a vulnerable position, to either try to avoid or minimize contact, which was not the case.
• This is not the first offense of the player at fault.
• The opponent was severely injured on the play.

According to reports, Bisson will miss the remainder of the series with a concussion. He was stretchered off the ice following the hit.

Imama has one goal and two assists in nine playoff games this year. The Sea Dogs have called up forward Cedric Pare to help fill some of the holes left up front, holes that now include Imama, Mathieu Joseph and Adam Marsh.

Game five of the series is tonight at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.