Suspension: UAA Hockey-Fiala

2018-19 Season

February 28, 2019 

Facts:

PC has requested a ruling under Rule 8.5.5 in relation to a head injury sustained by one of its players, Aaron Beauchamp (#20), which it alleges was caused by UAA’s Cody Fiala (#24) during a February 23, 2019 game. PC has provided video evidence in support of its allegation. The video footage is attached to this ruling.

PC has also provided medical confirmation that Mr. Beauchamp has been diagnosed with a concussion and has been placed in the concussion protocol.

The referee assessed a major and game misconduct for elbowing on the play in question. PC takes issue with the call, which it feels should have been for head contact.

Ruling:

Article I, Section 12, Rule 8.5.5 of the ACAC Operating Code reads as follows:

8.5.5. Any incident where injury was done to the player’s head can be requested for review by that institution for further suspension without fee regardless of whether it was called or not. If not called, the institution must provide a doctor’s note with diagnosis of injury. That institution is required to provide the league with video evidence of the incident.

I have had the opportunity to review the video footage, which clearly shows Mr. Fiala target Mr. Beauchamp and make contact with him behind the PC net at high speed, leaving his feet in doing so. Also of note, Mr. Fiala began his movement in Mr. Beauchamp’s direction from outside the PC blue line, which reinforces the predatory nature of the hit.

PC asserts that Mr. Fiala made direct contact with Mr. Beauchamp’s head, which, it suggests, would warrant a head contact call. The referee, who was in good position to make the call, felt that the initial point of contact was elbow to shoulder. In my opinion, the distinction is not relevant as it is my opinion that this extremely violent, dangerous and overly aggressive hit should be treated equally seriously whether the initial point of contact was Mr. Beauchanp’s shoulder or his head. Regardless of where initial contact was made, it appears as though the momentum arising from the hit caused Mr. Beauchamp’s head to violently strike the end boards behind the PC goal. I have been provided with clear guidance from the ACAC that hits such as these will not be tolerated by the league and that the consequences in circumstances such as these must be meaningful.

In assessing the relevant sanction, it should be noted that Mr. Fiala is a repeat offender within our league. During this season alone, Mr. Fiala has been suspended on three occasions for violent actions for a total of seven games, in addition to having received two previous suspensions in past seasons.

My determination of the appropriate sanction began with a consideration of Rule 8.4.1, which calls for an automatic minimum suspension of four games for a match penalty with head contact. Although a match penalty was not called in this case, I equate this hit with a match penalty with head contact in terms of severity. In addition, the injury sustained by Mr. Beauchamp represents an aggravational factor of one game and, further, Mr. Fiala’s extensive disciplinary history, particularly during the current season, represents an additional aggravational factor in the two game range, which is necessary to reinforce to Mr. Fiala that reckless and violent play which disregards the safety of opposing players will not be tolerated within the ACAC.

Based on the above, Mr. Fiala is hereby suspended for a total of seven (7) games. The first two (2) games of the suspension are to be served on March 1 and 2, 2019 vs. SAIT. The remaining five (5) games of the suspension are to be served during the ACAC playoffs. However, should UAA play less than five games during the 2019 ACAC playoffs, the remainder of Mr. Fiala’s suspension will carry over to the 2019-20 ACAC regular season.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee 
ACAC Commissioner