Lake suspended for Boarding

Giants forward receives suspension

On Saturday night in Belfast, Giants #9 Ben Lake was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for Boarding.

As the puck is dumped into the Flyers’ defensive zone by Giants #29 Jordan Kawaguchi, Flyers #7 Tyler Heidt backhands the puck to his teammate #22 Phelix Martineau. As he does so, Giants #9 Ben Lake comes down hard from his position and cuts in front of the net. Martineau collects the pass facing boards/corner and begins to make a play with his backhand. While making a move to play the puck on his backhand, Lake hits him forcefully on the back of the shoulder driving him dangerously into the boards. This is Boarding. 

It is important to note whilst we acknowledge Martineau does close up slightly at the last second, contact is to the back through the numbers. This contact is avoidable. 

The onus is on Lake to create a new angle of approach that allows him to deliver this hit legally, avoid the hit entirely, or at the very least minimise contact to ensure this is not a dangerous play.

To summarise:

• This is Boarding
• Is an avoidable hit
• Forceful contact through the numbers

Effectively immediately, Belfast Giants' Ben Lake is fined and suspended for one game.