Decision Review System: Saturday 22nd March 2025

Bristol Pitbulls #14 Lee Duance

After viewing the video provided and additional game video the GRP and EIH DOPS have Rejected the DRS request from Hull

At 55.14, Hull #17 attempts to control a pass from his teammate in the neutral zone. Bristol #14 is preparing to make a play against him with the pass not being directly to Hull #17 he stretches to control the puck.

Bristol #14 had committed to making the hit, at the time Hull #17 was in a natural skating position, but moments before contact Hull #17 changes his position to a stretch thus lowering his entire body to make his play with the puck. There would have been less than 4-6ft between the players at the time of this change thus not giving Bristol #14 sufficient time to react or change his position to hit Hull #17, Hull #17 was aware of players around him thus causing him to stretch for the puck rather than maintain body position and skate for the retrieval of the puck.  

#14 Bristol completes his hit with the shoulder first in a forward direction of skating and his body stance does not change up or down to complete the hit, and from the video provided does not “pick” or target the head, he assumes a checking stance and is braced for the check to be completed.

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 also Noted that the Hull team have supplied an Injury report to the EIH.

This is due to as a coincidence as Hewitt falls to the ice, he enters the skating lane of another player who falls over the top of Jason Hewitt by unavoidable accident causing the injury to the player.

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 Hull #17.

 The Game Review Panel & DOPS have adjudicated and reviewed a second DRS video request from Hull Seahawks during their fixture with Bristol Pitbulls on Saturday 22nd of March 2025.

Bristol Pitbulls #51 Reece Cochrane

After viewing the video provided and additional game video the GRP and EIH DOPS have Upheld the DRS request from Hull

Hull #96 was driving towards goal to attempt to shoot. Just prior to the attempt being finished the defending player Bristol #51 attempts to make a stick play on the attacking forward. This was attempted from left side of Hull #96 player.

Bristol #51 fails with a stick play to make any contact with Arms, Body or stick of Hull #96 and the stick follows through making contact to the face area of Hull #96.

This action caused reckless endangerment, and the player will be assessed a 5 + Game Misconduct penalty under High sticking Rule 60.4 timed at 55:14.

60.4. MAJOR PENALTY AND GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY The Referee, at their discretion, may assess a Major Penalty and an automatic Game Misconduct Penalty if, in their judgment, the Player recklessly endangers their opponent by “high-sticking”. Such assessment of reckless endangerment shall be based on the severity of the infraction, severity of the contact, the degree of violence and the general reprehensibility involved.

The Player receives 5 Penalty points and is suspended for 2 games under the totting up procedure for reaching 20 penalty points.

These 2 games suspensions will be served at the start of the 2025 / 26 season as Bristol Pitbulls have been eliminated from the 2024 / 25 Play Off series.