OHL likely to suspend Bahl for hit
With untold respect for some of the Ottawa 67’s big hitters from the franchise’s first 50 years like Denis Potvin, Eddie Hospodar and Rory Cava, it’s not easy being Kevin Bahl in this new era of junior hockey.
The 6-7, 231-pound 67’s sophomore defenceman likely spent a sleepless Super Bowl Sunday night after levelling Peterborough Petes defenceman Cole Fraser late in the first period on Sunday.
In the old days, it would have been a great hit. In modern times, they call it checking to the head and a match penalty, with a suspension likely to follow.
Fraser was in the act of shooting when Bahl caught the six-foot, 200-pounder off balance just inside the circle to Olivier Tremblay’s stick side. And Bahl got all of him. And then the rest of the afternoon off with a match penalty.
“(Bahl) is tall,” said 67’s head coach Andre Tourigny. “He doesn’t mean to hit high. It’s just tough at 6-7 or whatever he is, to hit low.”
Rumblings around the 67’s dressing room afterwards suggested a suspension of three games but no-one will know until the league rules on it.
In Bahl’s defence, he had just been slammed into the end boards from behind, a hit that went uncalled.
“Kevin’s always ready to defend himself,” said teammate Sasha Chmelevski. “He plays the game hard.”