Kitchener Ranger suspended for six games for blindside hit

A Kitchener Ranger has been handed a six game suspension for a blindside hit during a game with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

The Kitchener Rangers will be playing without one of their left-wingers after a blindside hit during a game with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

On Wednesday, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) announced Matthew Hlacar had been suspended for a total of six games following the Oct. 10 match.

The incident happened with 2:42 left in the second period. Hlacar hit the Greyhounds’ Jakub Winkelhofer, who crumpled to the ice.

At the time, the Rangers were leading 3 – 1, however Kitchener would eventually lose the game in overtime. The final score was 5 – 4.

Prior to the blindside hit, Hlacar was also booked for a check from behind and a fight.

“The OHL Department of Player Safety has allotted three games within the six-game suspension being attributed to the hit itself, citing that it falls into the category of ‘a hit that was late and should not be delivered from the backside to a player that would not be aware of the oncoming contact.’ An additional three games of the suspension have been attributed to the player’s recent history of dangerous hits,” the OHL decision stated.

Hlacar will be eligible to return to the Rangers lineup on Oct. 26.