Brendan Connolly suspended for one game

Steelers' forward receives one-game ban for Cross-Checking

An incident occurred in Cardiff on Saturday 18 January involving Sheffield Steelers' forward #63 Brendan Connolly on Cardiff Devils defenseman #55 Shaone Morrisonn, which is deemed a cross check.

The incident was reviewed by the EIHL's 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.

As the video shows, Brendan Connolly has established net-front presence in the attacking zone. In the first incident, Connolly is engaged with Cardiff Devils' #77 Sam Jardine through a cross check motion to the back of Jardine. It is not deemed a cross check worthy of supplementary discipline; however, it does create a pattern where Connolly uses his stick in a cross check manner to the back of an opposing player. 

Immediately following the cross check to Jardine, Connolly follows up with a second cross check to Shaone Morrisonn, a player that he had no immediate previous engagement with.

The reason for the review and supplementary discipline is that the cross check Connolly delivered on Morrisonn was high, deliberate and to the head area. It is deemed a reckless and endangering cross check. It is recognised that battles in front of the net occur frequently, with most battles involving two players that engage each other. In this incident, two separate opposing players were cross checked and with neither player is it deemed a one-on-one battle, but rather taking advantage through the use of a stick in an aggressive and illegal manner. It is also important to note that Morrisonn is skating from behind the net to the slot area, with his attention on the puck area, which is opposite the side of Connolly’s ice position.

There is no apparent reason for Connolly to be using his stick in a reckless and endangering manner to the head area of Morrisonn.

Effective immediately, Sheffield Steelers forward #63 Brendan Connolly is fined suspended for one game.

Key References:

• Cross Checking
• Reckless and endangering
• To the head area of opposing player
• Category 1: Careless