Danick Gauthier suspended for one game

Flyers forward receives suspension for Slew Footing

An incident occurred on Sunday, September 29th, involving Fife Flyers' #78 Danick Gauthier, during the game between the Fife Flyers and Belfast Giants, 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.

With play and a puck battle behind the goal line, the defending team, Belfast Giants, gained puck possession and moved the puck up ice. In the original puck battle, a regular body check occurred by a Belfast Giants player on Fife Flyers #78 Danick Gauthier. Everything is determined legal and okay at this point. Once the puck is gone from the original area of the two players, both players turned to move with the play. For no apparent reason, and with the puck gone, Gauthier skated from the back side of the opposing player to a side position and made a slew foot action. As the video shows, Gauthier used his left side upper body and partially his stick to propel the upper body of the opposing player backwards. At the same time, he also used a left leg kicking motion directly at the back side of the right skate, propelling the opposing player's skate forward. This slew foot action created the opposing player to awkwardly fall backwards. The opposing player had no way to protect himself and should not have to prepare for a slew foot (kicking action to back of skate) at any time. Furthermore, the puck was gone and there is no reason to make contact with the opposing player.

Effective immediately, Fife Flyers #78 Danick Gauthier is suspended for one game.

Key References:

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