Suspension for Antonin Manavian

According to the Arbitrator and after reviewing video evidence, the player Antonin Manavian (#4) of Fehervar AV19, in the road-game at Graz on Friday, October 13th 2017 time 29:41, made contact with an opponent deemed as Boarding, IIHF Rule 119. As per the 2017/18 EBEL Gamebook Part I - Chapter III - § 10, video evidence was sent to PSC (IDOPS) for a final verdict.
On Friday, October 13th 2017 in Graz, a play occurred which is deemed boarding.  On the play, 2 players are in a battle for the puck along the boards. #25 of Graz - Jonathan Carlsson - approached the battle between two players in an attempt to gain puck possession. With #25 of Graz having his back exposed to the open ice in his pursuit of the puck, Antonin Manavian approached directly from behind. The contact between Antonin Manavian and #25 of Graz occurred in a manner to propel the 99ers-player head first into the boards causing a game ending injury.
The play was elevated to supplementary discipline. It has been determined that Antonin Manavian approached directly from behind and had an alternative and should have recognized the opposing player was a dangerous distance and position from the boards. It is not deemed a check and is deemed a battle, which eliminates checking from behind.  The contact became both illegal and dangerous when Antonin Manavian glided in a slow motion form with his stick blade slightly off the ice.  With the opposing player vulnerable and unsuspecting, Antonin Manavian chose to elevate his stick in a cross checking motion and use it to create additional force above the opposing players pants, which is the cause of the opposing players to be propelled head first into the boards. The play is being deemed boarding by PSC due to the contact causing the opposing player to propel violently into the boards head first, causing an injury.

The play is deemed a Category 1 – ‘Careless’ – insufficient attention or thought to avoid harm or error. Liable to happen as a consequence of, by intending to affect an opponent through a reactionary or accidental motion or the incident is deemed careless causing negligence.

At the discretion of the EBEL PSC, incidental contact is when marginal and or accidental contact occurs between two or more players, with a foul that may be deemed by on-ice Officials as a minimum minor penalty or greater.  Contact is part of hockey provided it’s while performing normal defensive and offensive duties, reaching for a loose puck, or otherwise provided that the contact doesn’t allow a player to gain an advantage on the play that causes or may cause an injury based on an illegal act.

Key references:
- From behind
- Propelled opposing player into boards in a dangerous manner
- Use of stick to enhance force
- Not a repeat offender

From the perspective of DOPS and according to the EBEL Penalty Catalog Ref. Nr. 112 - Boarding, Antonin Manavian (#4) of Fehervar AV19 is suspended for two games, effective immediately.

Next game Antonin Manavian (#4) of Fehervar AV19 is allowed to play:
22.10.2017 Fehervar AV19  vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz

DOPS made available following video: