Aho put himself in a bad spot. He tried to toe-drag around a flat-footed Gio and got rocked. He saw him there, but still went for it. Don't know what else Gio could possibly do in that scenario to avoid hitting him in the head. Was pretty square to him, elbow down, contact with chest, didn't jump. But the guy's melon was definitely bonked.
Not a good move by Aho, hope he's alright though. Knee and head in one hit. Probably won't try that one again any time soon.
As a fan of the game who feels that more should be done to eliminate hits to the head I can see the rationale behind a suspension being issued here. Not that I think Gio did anything too egregious, but the way to eliminate headshots is by blanket suspensions for them, accidental or not.
However, it has to be said that far worse goes unpunished, especially in the playoffs, so who knows what will come of it.
Wheel of justice about to spin...
If that's the case take out all contact...oh his heads down, better let him walk in
It’s the hitters responsibility to avoid head contact. Obviously a hitter is aiming and trying to control where the point of contact is on the hittee.
And your right about a guy like Hamilton....just because he is 6’5 doesn’t give him the right to hit heads of anyone who is 6 feet.
There is lots I agree with you and others about this. He was just standing his ground, Aho was not protecting himself, and Gio was aiming for chest. But he got far more head than I thought at first, and to avoid that needed to aim the principle point of contact further away from his head.
It’s too bad, because I love some big hits. But I think based on the way it is now called, we may be without him for a game or 2.
we'll see what the NHL says, but i am of the opinion Aho was at least 50% to blame trying to dipsy doodle around Gio in the slot.
He should not get suspended at all. Clean hit and I have no issue with it at all. Dont try a junior B toe drag while trying to get around a dman. If it was one of our players who gets hit with his head down in this manner, id say keep your head up kid.
Hockey is a fast contact sport. One of the key hockey skills is to keep your head up at all times. Those complaining about such would be better off to watch Womens or kids hockey then, where there is no contact allowed. Part of hockey is intimidation, Gio doesnt need to let up in the contact at all. Make an impact hit, so be it. I hope any Dman on the flames doesnt let up on a player in a situation like this.
However knowing how the league seems to be going further into lowering the integral part of the game(physical play), I can see them giving him a BS suspension. I get intentional head shots and dirty plays should be eliminated. However, when you have your head down in a play like this, any hit you receive like this is legal and I hope every Flames player does what Gio did.
Contact in hockey isnt just about separating the player from the puck. Intimidation and big hits to get in the minds and make the opposing player think twice about making a play for fear of being checked hard is key.
Last edited by soulchoice; 01-15-2018 at 02:50 AM.
Personally, if I was the one handing out suspensions (and I think we can all agree it should be me and I should be paid millions of dollars to do so) this picture tells the story.
Moment of contact feet are on the ice.
Arm is firmly aligned with the chest.
Side of the shoulder is at the sterdim.
If we watch the video we see a few others things:
[/QUOTE]
Giordano stops to plant himself for the hit
Aho didn't expect Gio to stop, hence why he tried to dipsy-doodle into Gio's shoulder
Aho's head was firmly and squarely down
Let's compare that to rule 48.1:
Quote:
A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted. (emphasis added)
The main point of contact is the chest. Arm and elbow to mid-lower ribcage.
Quote:
48.1 - In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was
avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be
considered:
(i) 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.
Intent was the body, and Aho skated into Giordano. The top of Giordano's head doesn't even really go up, but stays about the same height then falls due to the force of the hit.
Quote:
48.1(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by
assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full
body check unavoidable.
Aho wasn't paying attention to Giordano. He was looking at the puck and wanted to do a dangle to get around him not realizing that he actually stopped skating.
Quote:
48.1(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way
that significantly contributed to the head contact.
Again Aho's head was down, and he tried to dispy-doodle around where he thought Giordano would be, without actually looking at where Giordano was.
Personally, I think the hit is fine, and not suspendable. However what will the DoPS say? I reiterate my previous thoughts:
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I'm not going to bother guessing seeing the NHL justice system is all over the map. I suspect they may go back to the Fowler hit late last season and maybe send a message but who knows.
Gio should be praised and this hit should be held as a sublime example of how to separate man from puck in the slot.
If Aho decides to dispy doodle in the slot with his head down, then proceed to admire his dangle, you will get popped 10 times out of 10. The onus is on the attacker to choose the correct action knowing a hit is coming.
This shouldn't have even been a penalty, much less a suspension. If it was a Flames player who got popped, I would have the same opinion. Dumb choice of play by the attacking player. He should have tried a quick shot instead of the toe drag, or if he felt the deke was a better choice, he should have done more to protect himself. Simple as that.
I will predict the league gives him a token 1 game suspension just to "send a message". So dumb.
Can’t stand this ‘need to eliminate head shots from the game’ crap. You’re never gonna be able to eliminate incidental head contact unless you completely remove hitting, period. The focus should be eliminating head hunting, late hits, and blindside hits. The incidental head contact in this hit in particular is largely the fault of Aho, full stop. He actually stooped his head down into Gio, who wasn’t even freaking moving. If this is a suspension then the league has lost their minds.
Last edited by jonkaupp; 01-15-2018 at 07:53 AM.
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To me this was the hockey equivalent of "charging", Gio had his feet planted and finished his check. Aho had his head down and was not paying attention. I do not think this is even a penalty, never mind a game misconduct. I would be disgusted if this is a suspension.
I think he'll get one game and I don't have a problem with it. I don't think there was any intent, but I think in order for the sport to take concussions and head shots as seriously as it needs to be - you will see, from time to time, someone get a game or two even when it was perhaps more the fault of the "hittee" for putting themselves in a vulnerable position.
Can’t stand this ‘need to eliminate head shots from the game’ crap. You’re never gonna be able to eliminate incidental head contact unless you completely remove hitting, period. .
Eventually it probably gets pretty close to this. Sports is going to have to evolve and move beyond a lot of the physicality that is part of it today.
To me their decision will come down to "principal point of contact". If they think the head was first, suspension (though not a long one). If they think chest, then there really shouldn't be anything.
I blame Hamilton for getting walked in the first place.
He’s getting at least two games. I agree with most here that it was a good but unfortunate play. The kid can’t toe drag the slot head down chin out. But, Gio does sort of get his chin contemporaneously with the chest.
Eventually it probably gets pretty close to this. Sports is going to have to evolve and move beyond a lot of the physicality that is part of it today.
I hope I'm in a grave before I see a day where passionate athletes who spend their entire lives working at their skills, improving their performance and strength, with families who make sacrifices year after year to support them, are reduced to playing flag football, track and field and soccer. While no one likes to see a guy injured, or face concussions, I'd be willing to bet 99% of players in the CHL, AHL, and NHL expect, respect, embrace, and prepare for the physical nature of the game.
The way the league is cracking down on stick infractions, you'd be crazy to expect a hit like Gios to NOT be taken. Chances are any play Gio could have made to strip the puck would have resulted in either hooking, tripping, or Aho making Gio look like a pylon. He did his job perfectly there, and that is a fundamental aspect of the game. It wasn't goonish, hunting, late, or unnecessary. If he let Aho walk around him, then we'd have something to complain about.
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He’s getting at least two games. I agree with most here that it was a good but unfortunate play. The kid can’t toe drag the slot head down chin out. But, Gio does sort of get his chin contemporaneously with the chest.
He’s getting suspended here peeps.
Never.
No way.
The match penalty more than covered it.
Gio should be praised and this hit should be held as a sublime example of how to separate man from puck in the slot.
If Aho decides to dispy doodle in the slot with his head down, then proceed to admire his dangle, you will get popped 10 times out of 10.
A bit of Hyperbole aside, you're not wrong.
That was a textbook hit, the real issue is that Aho did absolutely nothing to protect himself.
A normal player takes that shoulder to the chest, lands on their ass and pops right back up like one of those stupid Clown Punching Bags, but Aho exposed himself bigtime and got his ass rocked and ergo did his best 'Bambi on Ice.'
Gio doesnt explode into the hit, his skates stay on the ice and he hits shoulder to sternum.
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