Stewart’s NINE-game ban huge blow to Belfast Giants

Sensationally the Rapid Solicitors Elite League disciplinary committee has banned the Stena Line Belfast Giants’ forward Greg Stewart for a total of nine matches.

The bombshell was dropped on the squad after officials reviewed the game tapes from the Giants versus Devils clash. It came after a request for supplementary discipline by Cardiff, which after the review by the disciplinary committee, made a two-minute minor penalty become a match penalty for checking to the head, which carries an automatic three-match ban.

Not content with the above the Devils requested a supplementary discipline hearing in another incident involving Stewart in the same game. After a review of the game DVD, a match penalty for kneeing was assessed on Stewart and he will be banned for a further three matches.

With two serious match penalties called during the game, Stewart has had an extra three matches added by the disciplinary committee to make a total of nine matches. The extra three matches can be appealed against.

One could ask, what were the referees doing during the match if the evidence was so compelling to ban Greg Stewart for a total of nine games? Yes, you could argue the officials must have missed the first incident but the next as well? The extra three-match suspension for good measure just rubs salt into the Giants’ wound.

Head of discipline Simon Kirkham said: “These two incidents in the game were worthy of match penalties and, after a review by the committee, we have decided to impose the minimum tariff for each incident. As both incidents are nasty and happened in the same game, we have decided to add an extra three matches to make a total of nine.”

Giants Head Coach Doug Christiansen who was in Latvia with the GB National Team is unhappy with the decision and has confirmed that the Giants will be appealing against the ruling.

Sadly as it has turned out, Cardiff have lost the services of their star forward Mac Faulkner for the remainder of the 2012/13 Elite League.

The injury to the Toronto native happened in the third period following an alleged dangerous hit from Giants’ forward Greg Stewart. Cardiff feel they were victims of two reckless incidents from Stewart in the match that has subsequently led to the player receiving the nine game suspension from the EIHL Disciplinary Committee.

Cardiff Devils CEO Paul Ragan has released the following Club statement: ” We have been dealt a huge blow by losing Mac (Faulkner) to a season ending injury to his lower body that will require surgery to repair. We will stand beside Mac in a difficult time for him personally and now a challenging time for us as a Club. Mac has been outstanding for us this season on and off the ice and he will continue to remain a big part of our Devils’ plans going forward.”

Ragan continued: “It is an important statement from the Elite League about its intention to protect our EIHL players from facing deliberate and dangerous play during matches. We will not comment further about the suspension levied against Mr. Stewart.”

The Devils Head Coach Gerad Adams knows how important it is to Devils’ fans to reach the Nottingham showcase Finals in April: “We have had a great run getting the club to the Elite League Final weekend every season of the EIHL and we don’t plan on letting that end this season without a fight to the bitter end. We remain quietly confident.”

Meanwhile Giants head coach, Doug Christiansen just returning from international duty in Latvia with Team GB had these comments: “I’m angry, which is my response to the nine-match suspension imposed on Stewart by the disciplinary body and am launching an immediate appeal against that decision”.

Should the Giants appeal fail it could have a disastrous affect on the Giants repeat Elite League title hopes as they face losing their leading goal scorer for the next month.

Christiansen continued: “We have put forward a request to review the nine-match suspension handed out to Greg Stewart and because of that I can’t make any comment on the incident or the suspension at this stage.

“This is a very serious matter and it needs to be treated accordingly. I expect to be able to speak fully and publicly on the matter in the future after it is dealt with.”

With four Giants out of action through injury (Andrew Fournier, Will Colbert, Sam Roberts and international goalie Stephan Murphy), Belfast are already short benched.

Giants entertain Graeme Walton’s testimonial Tuesday night in the Odyssey Arena followed by the first leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final in Nottingham on Wednesday against the Panthers.

If that wasn’t enough Belfast entertain Coventry Blaze in “Fortress Odyssey” for a “Double Hitter” Friday and Saturday night. They need every able body skater they can muster to stem the tide.

On a short note, Giants Craig Peacock and Colin Shields scored three of the only four goals Team GB could muster whilst trying to qualify for next years Winter Olympics in Russia. They certainly missed Stephen Murphy in goal who was sidelined through injury losing all three final pre-qualifying games against higher ranked teams but gave their best.