Saab Suspended Eight Games

SAINT JOHN – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has come down hard on Ian Saab.

The Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman has been suspended for an additional seven games to go with his automatic one game. Saab received a match penalty for high sticking late in Sunday’s game in Shawinigan, basically/sort of cross checking Dillon Donnelly in the face when play was dead.

Here’s the video, courtesy of HockeyFights.com.

It’s difficult to argue with the league’s decision. A play like that is completely unnecessary.

Here is the rational for the suspension, as per the QMJHL release.

• After the play was stopped, there was a gathering near the net of the opposing team. Players from both teams returned to their respective benches.
• The player at fault left from his blue line and headed towards his opponent.
• The opponent raised his arms up to the plexus of the offending player.
• The offending player then forcefully hit his opponent in the face with his stick and glove and hit him on the head a second time with his glove.
• It was not his first offense.
• The opponent was injured.

Saab will miss tonight’s game in Halifax and the Sea Dogs' two remaining regular season games this weekend in Cape Breton. It’s likely we won’t be seeing Saab in game action until the second round of the playoffs.

The 20-year old has two goals and seven assists in 52 games with Saint John this year. His 164 penalty minutes place him second in the league.