Woodstock Slammers to kick off 2012 with road games

The Woodstock Slammers will begin the new year with a road trip.

The top-ranked junior A team in the nation is in the midst of a three-week Christmas break. The squad will play three away games in the first two weeks of 2012.

On Friday, January 6th, 2012, the Slammers will face the Bridgewater Lumberjacks at 7:00 pm in Bridgewater.

The Slammers will then face the Yarmouth Mariners on Saturday, January 7th at 7:30 pm in Yarmouth.

On Sunday, January 8th, the Slammers will visit the Metro Marauders at 1:00 pm.

The Slammers' next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th, 2012, at 7:30 pm at the Carleton Civic Centre. They will face off against the Campbellton Tigers.

Three Slammers suspended

A few of the Slammers will be getting a longer Christmas break. 

Three Slammers (two players and a coach) have been suspended by the MHL in connection to a brawl which occured during the home game on Friday, December 16th, 2011 against the Summerside Western Capitals. 

Mapledale native and Slammers winger Colton Stairs will sit out for ten games. Stairs' suspension consists of six games for leaving the player bench, along with four games as a result of a slashing major penalty. 

Colton Stairs

Stairs fought Summerside netminder Jared Kelly in the brawl, which began following a goal netted by Woodstock's Nick Huard with five and a half minutes remaining in the third period.

 Some pushing, shoving and face-washing took place. 

The officials appeared to have restored order, but Kelly left the Capitals' net to challenge Woodstock netminder Matt Murphy to a fight. Stairs then left the Shiretown bench and defended Murphy by fighting Kelly. Things went downhill from there. 

Jake Logan received a one-game suspension for his seventh fighting major penalty. MHL regulations state that when a player receives their seventh fighting major penalty in a season, they are automatically awarded a one-game suspension. Logan will sit out an additional two games for fighting twice on the same stoppage of play. 

As a result of Colton Stairs' unauthorized departure from the bench, Slammers head coach Jason Tatarnic was suspended for two games for failing to control his bench. 

Summerside was not immune to the disciplinary action taken by the league. 

Capitals' goaltender Jared Kelly was issued a five-game suspension for leaving his crease, plus another five games for instigating a multiple fight situation. Kelly will sit out for a total of ten games. 

Steve Brazil of the Capitals was suspended for six games for leaving the player bench. 

The MHL suspended Brendan Carter for two games for his involvement in a multiple fight situation. 

Summerside's head coach, Billy McGuigan, was also suspended for failing to control his team's bench. He will not be seen behind the bench for five games. 

Jason Tatarnic decided not to appeal the suspensions. Tatarnic commented on the suspensions in a press release on the Slammers' website. 

"I accept our team suspension's and I understand the league's position. The situation easily could have been avoided[,]" Tatarnic noted. "The initial skirmish was over and the referee's had control of the situation until their goaltender received direction from the bench to leave his crease to engage in a fight with our goaltender. Nothing else happens if the goaltender stays in his crease, plain and simple in my opinion."

Slammers top in division ranks

Not only are the Woodstock Slammers the top-ranked team in the nation, but they are also first in their division, the Meek Division. The following are the MHL standings as of Wednesday, December 28, 2011.

Roger Meek Division

1. Woodstock Slammers 

2. Summerside Western Capitals

3. Dieppe Commandos

4. Miramichi Timberwolves 

5. Campbellton Tigers 

Maurice Bent Division

1. Amherst Ramblers 

2. Yarmouth Mariners 

3. Metro Marauders 

4. Weeks Crushers 

5. CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 

With files from www.slammershockey.ca, www.themhl.ca and the Bugle-Observer