Martineau Suspended Four Games

The Screaming Eagles will be without Phelix Martineau for tomorrow night’s game seven.

The QMJHL announced today that Martineau has been suspended four games for his hit on Bailey Webster in game five of Cape Breton’s playoff series against the Saint John Sea Dogs. Martineau was suspended for Sunday’s game six, so he has three more games to serve.

Martineau hit on Webster pic.twitter.com/sNdVXKzGlS

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) April 15, 2016

Here is the rationale for the suspension, via the QMJHL website:

• A Cape Breton player dumped the puck around the net in the offensive zone.
• The opponent pivoted and headed towards the puck to recover it.
• When he finally got control of it, he was at the height of the bottom of the faceoff circle about ten feet from the boards.
• The player at fault was fore-checking from the blue line in the middle of the ice.
• He accelerated, glided and pushed the opponent into the boards.
• The opponent braked just before contact.
• The player at fault had speed even though he glided before impact.
• After a contact on the opponent’s stick, he gave him a strong push.
• The opponent was in a vulnerable position a few feet from the boards and fell violently against them.
• The player at fault made no effort to avoid or minimize contact.
• This is not the first offense of the player at fault.
• The opponent was not injured on the play.

Martineau’s suspension joins a long list of bans that have come from the Saint John – Cape Breton full season series. Bokondji Imama will serve the third game of his seven-game suspension tomorrow. TSN's Craig Button gave his thoughts on the Imama suspension earlier this week.

Excessive suspension in @QMJHL IMO 7 games for @SJSeaDogs Bokonji Imama. Pierre-Luc Dubois received 2 games for hit on Green. #NotFair

— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) April 15, 2016

The Cape Breton centre has two goals and three assists in 11 playoff games.

Game seven is tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Harbour Station.