Toigo ticked by Benson suspension
Vancouver Giants’ prize rookie Tyler Benson was suspended Friday for one game by the Western Hockey League, which made Ron Toigo an unhappy majority owner.
“I completely disagree with it 100 per cent,” Toigo said before his Giants met the Swift Current Broncos Friday night at the Pacific Coliseum.
“I don’t think it was a suspendable offence by any means but, respectfully, the league has a say on what it is. It was a good hit and it was unfortunate the Kelowna player was hurt.”
The hit occurred Wednesday just as the first period was concluding with the Giants up 3-0. Rockets defenceman Jesse Lees, 19, had the puck in the Kelowna defensive zone and had just moved it when Benson, 16, finished his check and sent Lees tumbling awkwardly back-first into the boards. The hit was from the front. Benson received a boarding major and game misconduct and Lees did not return. Kelowna bounced back to win the game 7-5.
“I don’t think Tyler did anything wrong and I don’t think it warranted a two-minute penalty,” Toigo said.
“It is unfortunate. Accidents happen and people get hurt. But, at the end of the day, we just have to roll with it. My biggest concern is that if something happens down the road, now he’s a repeat offender and maybe he gets another suspension because of this suspension.”
Lees was listed as ‘ upper body, day-to-day’ by the Rockets and was not scheduled to play for them Friday in Everett. He is on the road with the team, however.
Benson, the first overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft, is in his first full season with the Giants. He had two goals and two assists in his first three games, all Vancouver victories.
“Even though Tyler is only 16 years old, we’re a better team with him in the lineup so it hurts us,” Toigo said.
“You don’t want to put too much pressure on the kid but it’s awful hard not to throw the accolades his way. He’s as complete a 16-year-old as I’ve ever seen.”
ICE CHIPS: Coda Gordon’s second goal of the game, at 9:17 of the third period, lifted the Broncos past the Giants 5-4 on Friday. Jake DeBrusk, Dillon Heatherington and Glenn Gaudin also scored for the visitors. Carter Popoff, Alec Beer, Matt Bellerive and Thomas Foster netted goals for the Giants.