Justin Hamonic suspended for two games for Interference

Blaze defenseman handed suspension

On Sunday night in Coventry, Blaze Defenceman Justin Hamonic was assessed a Major and Game Misconduct Interference penalty for this late, high hit on Devils forward Josh Waller.

As the video shows, Waller enters the Blaze zone on the rush as Hamonic closes the gap on the attacking Devils players entering the zone. The puck is passed by Devils forward Sam Duggan past Waller and is intercepted by Blaze's Janne Kivilahti.

Well after the puck Is gone, Hamonic delivers a late, high, forceful hit on the vulnerable Waller who is ineligible to be hit on this play. This is Interference.

Players who are not in possession of the puck are never eligible to be checked. The interference rule provides a brief window during which, however, a player who initiates a hit, while his opponent is in possession of the puck, may legally finish a check. This is not such a case. Hamonic does not initiate this hit until after the puck has gone and contact is made outside of the allowable time to finish a check of a player who is either in possession of the puck or just released the puck. In fact, at the moment that contact is made, Kivilahti has already gained possession of the puck for the Blaze and has made his move breaking out of the zone.

Waller has no reason to expect to be hit due to him not being in possession of the puck and due to the length of time after the puck has passed through his vicinity. This makes him particularly vulnerable to contact.

What elevates this to the level of supplemental discipline is the lateness of the high hit, and the force of the impact on a vulnerable player.

To summarise:

• This is Interference
• Waller suffered an injury on the play
• Hamonic has neither been fined nor suspended during the 20/21 EIHL Season

Effective immediately, Coventry Blaze #22 Justin Hamonic is fined and suspended for two games.