By Cameron MacEachern
For all of the outrage over the Jonathan Huberdeau
suspension, one would be led to believe that the Saint John Sea Dogs were now
somehow behind the eight ball in the President’s Cup Final against Rimouski.
The accusations of league bias against the Maritimes after this decision was
handed down were ridiculous. When you drive your shoulder through a player’s
numbers the way Huberdeau did, you should be lucky to only get two games. But
what’s done is done, and the Sea Dogs will be without their captain for the
first two games of the QMJHL final. And they’re going to be totally fine.
While Huberdeau is undoubtedly the best player in the
league, remember that between injuries, World Juniors and NHL training camps,
Saint John only had him in the lineup for about half the schedule. They still
managed to cruise to a 50-win season to capture their third consecutive regular
season title, and a 12-1 record thus far in the playoffs (with Huberdeau only
fifth in team scoring). This team is deeper than a copy of one of Deepak
Chopra’s books sitting at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Rimouski has had a strong, if unexpected, run to get to
where they are now. Not many expected them to get past a talented Mooseheads
squad in the semifinals, yet here they are, on the strength of solid team
defense and quick counterattacks, led by some relatively unheralded players in
Alex Belzile and Alexandre Mallet. The fact remains, though, that Saint John
has them outmatched just about everywhere.
The Sea Dogs have more first-round NHL draft picks than the
Oceanic have draft picks, period. If you were to combine these rosters into one
super-team, there’s maybe one Rimouski player that cracks the top-six forwards,
and one, maybe two defensemen in the top-four. The Sea Dogs should be able to
cruise to another QMJHL championship, and if they don’t, it will be a result of
far more serious problems than Huberdeau missing games one and two.
Sea Dogs in five.
Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation
Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation
"drive your shoulder through a player’s numbers the way Huberdeau did"
ReplyDeleteDid you even see the hit in question?
Nothing of the sort happened. It was a nothing hit and had there been no injury there would be no discussion about it. The check on Villemaire was ten times worse and the league could care less. As has been stated many times. The issue isn't Huberdeau's loss, we'll survive. The issue is the league's now obvious attempts to cut the legs out from under any non Quebec team. There's no way to uphold Critchlow and suspend Huberdeau without accepting the obvious bias in play. It won't matter though, we're not Halifax.
THIS IS SAINT JOHN!!!
Have YOU seen it?
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDUefkYum70
If you think that's a nothing hit then I'd say you're wearing rose-colored glasses, but that much is already made clear by your comments on the Q-league's supposed bias. If there's a case to be made for the league being anti-Maritimes, this ain't an example of it.
So your answer to my earlier question is "no", you saw a spliced video.
DeleteI was 20 feet from it and it was not anything like you tried to make it out to be. Try coming to a game then lecture me on the color of my glasses. I notice you were smart enough to avoid discussing my comparison of that hit to the one on Villemaire. Smart.
Go to the 1:39 minute mark and note the ref's position during the hit on Villemaire.
Deletehttp://www.saintjohnseadogs.com/video/index/id/3bb51920a68fed66f8743fc258afb7a8
Yes... a spliced video that clearly shows Huberdeau putting Hudon into the boards from behind. It shows the initial contact and then switches camera angle. He planted him between the numbers. I don't need to be at the game to see that.
DeleteI haven't seen the hit on Villemaire, but please explain your undoubtedly flawless logic to me. The hit was presumably worth a lengthy suspension, so now Huberdeau magically did not lay a dirty hit from behind on Hudon and doesn't deserve a suspension? Or the league is maliciously biased against the Sea Dogs because they suspended Huberdeau and not a player whose season is already over?
You consider that hit ten times worse than the one by Huberdeau? Ahahahahahahaha.
DeleteWow, I didn't mean to make you cry, sorry.
DeleteNo one, myself included, is saying Huberdeau didn't deserve a penalty for the hit from behind. I'm saying that the QMJHL reversed their position 180 degrees to suspend Huberdeau after not overturning the Critchlow call. Had you actually seen the hit you'de know that the force was not directed into the boards but rather along them. I (we) still have no idea what Hudon's injury even was.
And yes, I consider driving a player head first into the boards to be a much worse infraction than a check from behind along the boards. I'm of course assuming that we're talking about player safety.
As to my feelings of bias, they're not based solely on the Huberdeau suspension. You're of course entitled to your opinion just as I'm entitled to mine. the diference being that a lot more people who've actually been to the games agree with me.
Yes I am crying because you are owning me so hard by still not actually explaining what your point is about the Villemaire hit. Also no idea what Critchlow has to do with this. If the point you're trying to make is that the QMJHL has consistency issues with regards to discipline, goodness me! I had no idea. Doesn't change the fact that Huberdeau deserved what he got.
DeleteI HAVE seen the hit. Dunno what you're on about with "actually being at the game" but you still haven't explained what I'm missing by only seeing the video. Huberdeau planted Hudon from behind into the boards, regardless of whether it was "along" the boards or not. You can't do that. It is against the rules.
I am baffled at how many people are pointing at the Villemaire hit as an example of some perceived double standard. The hit on Villemaire was a boarding minor at worst. The player was basically at a standstill and pushed him into the boards. He didn't even follow through on the hit so I dunno where you're coming up with "driving a player head first into the boards". Huberdeau cruised into Hudon's back with his shoulder. Big difference.
And yes you are entitled to your opinion and I am to mine. The difference being that mine is right and yours is wrong. A lot of people who've "actually been to the games" (read: Sea Dogs fans) agree with you and not with me. Can't believe that most junior hockey fans are completely biased towards their own teams. Really thought that 100% of Sea Dogs fans would agree with me that their captain deserved to be suspended. This is madness.
By "driving a player into the boards headfirst" I mean:
DeleteMaking contact with a player (who is already facing the boards) with enough force to propel him into the boards in a manner such that the first part of his body to make contact with the boards (and therefore take the largest part of the impact force) is the player's head.
If you like I can also post the meaning of "up".
Despite both making valid points, I easily side with Mr. MacEachern. While both hits were inevitably dirty, Huberdeau's hit was from behind, into the boards (along still put him into the boards), and into the numbers. Period.
DeleteAs opposed to the Villemaire hit that was... From behind and put his head into the boards?
Deletei always thought that after a suspension was handed down, the leauge prefect put a video out explaning his reason for the suspension. i have not saw one for the critchlow even tho it is a leauge rul still would of liked to hear his explanation. But to a larger extent the heubi suspension.but nope because he only has one reason and it is to see le qubecois team TRY to beat us...not going to happend. i hope the boys come flying tonight and just run the score up on le oceanic.#GDG
ReplyDeleteI believe the league only puts videos out for heavier suspensions... possibly 3 games or more.
DeleteThey did it for Critchlow and his was a one game suspension. Now who's wearing the rose colored glasses again?
DeleteWell, here's where it says they only do videos for suspensions of 3+ games:
Deletehttp://www.canada.com/sports/QMJHL+produce+suspension+videos/5534044/story.html
And there's no video of the Critchlow suspension on the Q website... please link me to it. Thanks in advance.
I didn't post the video comment but was refering to the story on the Q site. Link below.
Deletehttp://theqmjhl.ca/article/captain-critchlow-suspended-for-game-6
I find it odd that they don't even mention the Huberdeau suspension.
Feels like they're trying not to attract attention to what many feel is an contradiction in policy after they Critchlow decision.
i think that after all this talk about that hit that the same thing should be said for all the hits were made against our seadogs in the last series
ReplyDeleteThe only "snippet" we've seen is the check into the back of Hudon's turning shoulder.
ReplyDeleteThe hit on Galiev behind their net in the 2nd was even worse than Hubie's, a clear head shot by O'Brien who showed zero respect all night.
The Chicoutimi fans can only look up to the Saint John organization for taking the high road in not submitting damning videos of their team's ... valiant efforts.
I hope our boys run up the score 20-0 without Huberdeau, a big flipping bird to the league.
THAT'S THE POINT I MEAN SHOULD THOSE HITS BE CALLED BACK INTO CONSIDERATION
DeleteI SAW THE PUCK HUDSON IN PERSON THE PUCK HIT HIS HEAD SO HOW I SEE IT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PENALTY AGAINST THE SEADOGS BUT AGAINST CHICOUTIMI
You seem to be missing the whole point here Cameron!! The issue that we have with the suspension and i am sure most fans will agree is that Huberdeau (our captain and best player) got suspended for a hit from behind while several other hits from behind were let go by the league. If you need examples there were hits on on Villimar, Jurco and Tesink all during that series that were every bit as dangerous as the huberdeau hit.
ReplyDeleteThere were only 2 differences between those 3 hits and huberdeaus. #1 jurco, tesink and villimar all got up and managed to finish the game and #2 they all play for a maritime team. Is that just a coincidence that there were no suspensions for any of those other hits??
Personally i think the league needs to get some consistency. If your gonna suspend Huberdeau well thats fine but they better start suspending players from Quebec teams when they make the same kind of mistakes!!!
Of those three hits, I've only seen the one on Villemaire and anyone who thinks that's a suspendable hit is an absolute nutcase. I can't comment on the other two until I see them. I agree that the Q's consistency when it comes to discipline is a joke, but anyone who thinks it's a conspiracy against Maritime teams has a severe persecution complex.
DeleteThat's because Villemaire got up. I guess the best way to prevent head injusries is to punish players after there's been a head injury. And for the record "nutcase", "joke", etc. are a much more demonstrative of your bias, not ours. Come on up to Saint John for two games, one against say Halifax and the other against say Victoriaville and then tell me the officiating is balanced.
DeleteCould it be that YOU have a bit of an axe to grind? Hmmm Cape Breton eh? Didn't we just sweep you guys and isn't your gum spitting ex coach now with Chicoutimi?
Interesting indeed...
You've figured me out, Anonymous. I am devastated that "my" Eagles who I definitely am an avid fan of and not at all indifferent about were swept by the Sea Dogs and now I am getting even by pointing out that a shove from behind is not quite as suspendable as a mid-speed run at a vulnerable opponent who has his back turned the entire time. I will crawl back into my hole now.
DeleteSo Cameron, did you watch the game Friday night? If so, you still think the officiating is balanced?
DeleteWhen did I ever say anything about the officiating? My point all along was that the Huberdeau suspension was deserved. Move on.
DeleteFirst, had the Huberdeau suspension happened in a vacuum then it could be discussed on it's own. But it didn't, it came on the heels of another colossal shafting of an Atlantic team by the QMJHL.
DeleteSecond, The hit wasn't that bad and deserved an in game penalty at worse. Two games for that hit is absurd. Whether Hudon was injured shouldn't enter into it. (Hudon's injury is still a mystery)
If the Q really believes they're doing the right thing then why isn't the anything about the suspension in their news section. Critchlow's one game was a story in the semis, Huberdeau's two games is nothing in the finals? They don't want to talk about it because even they know it's a double standard they can't defend.
Also, you said something about officiating when you asserted above that Seadog's fans have a "severe persecution complex"
Saint John haas been dominating this league for two years so you can't play the sour grapes card. You might consider for a moment that we might actually be seeing what we say we're seeing. (objectivity?)
PS, "Moving on" allows wrong to keep happening over and over again.
When Cape Breton is on top of the Q then you'll wish everyone hadn't "moved on".
You are waging in a war of futility with your comments Cameron. I doubt there is any bias against Maritime teams, however there are frustrating inconsistencies that all teams have to deal with.
ReplyDelete