Brett Ferguson suspended for one game

Flames forward receives one game suspension for Slew-Footing.

An incident occurred on Sunday 22 September involving Guildford Flames' #18 Brett Ferguson, during the game between the Fife Flyers and Guildford Flames, which is deemed as a slew foot.

The incident was reviewed by the EIHL Department of Player Safety which determined supplementary discipline is required under Category 1 - 'Careless' - insufficient attention or thought to avoid harm or error. It is liable to happen as a consequence of, or by intending, to affect an opponent through a reactionary or accidental motion; or the incident is deemed careless caused by negligence.

Fife Flyers' #40 Carlo Finucci was in possession of the puck and made a pass. Guildford Flames' #18 Brett Ferguson entered the area of Finucci in a timely manner to make a legal body check. Instead of making a legal body check, Ferguson made a check deemed as slew footing. As the video shows, Brett Ferguson gains a body position to the right side of Finucci.

With Ferguson's left arm (bottom hand) off his stick, this allowed him to gain an upper body stance on the front side of Finucci. This body action alone is not the issue. The left leg kick directly from behind to Finucci's right leg, however, is. The left leg sweep from Ferguson is deemed dangerous, especially when he has a front-side, upper-body, free arm position. The slew foot action propelled the opposing player backwards in a defenseless and dangerous position. A proper body check is delivered through the use of the shoulder or hip. In this case the force and delivery of the body check was delivered through a leg sweep.

Effective immediately, Guildford Flames #18 Brett Ferguson is suspended for 1 game.

Key References:

• Slew Foot
  
• Leg sweep from behind
  
• Upper body in front to create an opposite motion from leg sweep
  
• Category 1 - Careless