DRS Outcomes: 15th and 16th March

The Game Review Panel & DOPS have adjudicated and reviewed a DRS video request from Milton Keynes Lightning during their fixture on Saturday 15th March 2025 versus Leeds Knights.

Leeds Knights #12 Kieran Brown

After viewing the video provided and additional game video the GRP and EIH Dops have Rejected the DRS request from Milton Keynes Lightning

At 1.11 play is in the centre of the ice, MK #24 turns and skates up the ice towards the Leeds Goal he receives the puck just outside the Leeds blue line and as he steps inside the line there is contact between himself and Leeds #12.

Leeds #12 see’s Mk#24 gain possession of the puck approx. 6-8 feet directly in front of him and turns his body slightly to use his right shoulder to check #24, he does not raise or lower his body position, and from the video provided does not “pick” or target the head, he assumes a checking stance and is braced for the check.

#24 is aware of the impending check and just prior to the impact #24 changes his body position slightly by turning to his right and as he does his left shoulder drops and as a result the contact is to the head as well as the upper arm.

48.1. ILLEGAL CHECK TO THE HEAD OR NECK

In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be considered:

(V) Whether the Player attempted to hit squarely through the opponent’s body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward. If the primary force of a blow is initially to the body area and then contact slides up to the head or neck.

(VI) Whether the opponent put themself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable.

(VII) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of their body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact.

It is noted that an Injury Report (submitted to EIH from the MKL Physio 17Mar25) has been submitted and received by the EIH.

It is the decision of the GRP and DOPS that this is not an illegal check to the head but a check made with incidental head contact due to the late body position change of the MK#24.

The Game Review Panel & DOPS have adjudicated and reviewed a DRS video request from Peterborough Phantoms during their fixture on Sunday 16th March 2025 versus Hull Seahawks.

Hull Seahawks #23 Lee Haywood

The DRS Review is Upheld.

At 51.38 PB#91 passes the puck off to another player and skates in towards the net as he does Hull #23 Lee Haywood raises his stick to waist height and with a “stabbing” motion pushes it into the stomach area of #91.

62.1. SPEARING

Spearing shall mean stabbing an opponent with the point / toe of the stick blade, whether contact is made or not.

As contact was made this is not an “attempt to spear” so the double minor penalty is not available for selection. The correct call for this offence is a 5-minute major + a game misconduct

62.3. MAJOR PENALTY AND GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY

The Referee, at their discretion, shall assess a Major Penalty and an automatic Game Misconduct Penalty to a Player guilty who “spears” an opponent.

The force used was neither minimal nor excessive but contact was made and a spearing offence committed.

Hull #23 receives 5 penalty points and is free to play subject to accumulated penalty points.