Curb Your Enthusiasm
With an unprecedented suspension, the AHL delivers a clear message about the consequences of violent play.

Jonathan Roybal
Minor League News

05.15.04 -- The American Hockey League [AHL] recently handed out a pair of punishments in response to a violent confrontation in which one player was rendered unconscious and left suffering convulsions on the ice.

One week after Cleveland Barons defenseman Garrett Stafford was hospitalized following being slashed in the head by Hamilton Bulldogs forward Alexander Perezhogin, the league responded by suspending Perezhogin for the entire 2004-05 season.

Meanwhile, Stafford has been suspended six games for his actions in the fifth game of the North Division semifinal playoff series on April 30.

During play in front of the Cleveland net at 18:38 of the first period, Stafford swung his stick in a dangerous manner, striking a glancing blow on the back of Perezhogin’s helmet.

Perezhogin responded with a forceful, two-handed baseball-like swing to Stafford’s face, immediately dropping Garrett to his knees and sending blood gushing onto the ice.

As the result of the blow, Stafford was treated at Hamilton General Hospital for a concussion that led to a seizure and facial lacerations that required 20 stitches. He was released from care the following day.

The 20-year-old Perezhogin was assessed a match penalty for "intent to injure" on the play and was immediately suspended indefinitely pending league review. The subsequent yearlong suspension will be the longest ever to be handed out be the AHL.

"While in my opinion the action of Mr. Stafford was clearly a contributing factor to the incident, the reaction by Mr. Perezhogin was indefensible in terms of both its nature and its real and potential consequences," stated AHL President and CEO David Andrews.

There is no history of previous confrontation between the two first-year AHL players, both of who are considered to be highly skilled and promising prospects.

A 2001 first-round draft pick by Montreal, Perezhogin finished fourth among league rookies with 50 points in 77 games for the Bulldogs.

Stafford was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team after leading all first-year defensemen in scoring with 46 points.

Neither player had previously been the subject of disciplinary action by the AHL this season, and neither had any disciplinary record in other organizations.

Andrews admitted that the AHL front office had no real example to follow when it came to handing out the punishment for this particular episode.

"Precedents set by other leagues regarding ‘comparable incidents’ were considered, but it was determined that no other incident was precisely comparable in terms of the players involved, their histories and the circumstances under which events transpired," said Andrews.

"The American Hockey League put a great deal of time, care, and thought into the decision," stated Wayne Thomas, Assistant General Manager of the San Jose Sharks and General Manager of the Cleveland Barons. "If this is the standard ruling for blows to the head, now and in the future, then we can accept it."

Following the announcement of his suspension, Alexander Perezhogin made a public apology for what transpired that day.

"I deeply regret what happened in relation to this incident," said Perezhogin. "I hope that Garrett Stafford’s injuries are not serious and Garrett enjoys a full and speedy recovery. I have made efforts to speak with Garrett to convey my feelings.

"I must say I did not intend to strike Garrett in the face and my intent was never to hurt or injure Garrett in any way," he continued.

Hamilton police will make the final determination on the intention of Perezhogin’s actions, as they are still investigating the hit.

"In regards to legal actions, we are leaving the issue in the hands of the Hamilton authorities," said Thomas.

Stafford has managed to stay out of the public eye in the days following the incident and seems determined to put this behind him.

"I am just trying to recover and regain my strength, so that hopefully I will be able to return to playing hockey in the near future," Stafford said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Thomas has little doubt that his young prospect will soon be able to do just that.

"We expect Garrett to fully recover and look forward to him returning to the ice at our mini-camps this summer," he said.

 

 

 

 

 

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