A highly touted final of the Memorial Cup got chippy after London Knights forward Landon Sim was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for delivering an elbow to the head of Saginaw Spirit defenceman Zayne Parekh.
The play occurred late in the first period after Sim travelled from across the ice with his elbow up and caught Parekh who was attempting to make a play with the puck.
Parekh would stay down on the ice for some time before heading to the locker room. Parekh would eventually return for the start of the second period.
The Spirit would take advantage of the five-minute major assessed to Parekh as they increased their lead to 2-0 on the power play.
Parekh is viewed as a potential top-10 pick in the upcoming draft after scoring 33 goals and 63 assists in the regular season. His 96 points were the most by an OHL defenceman since Ryan Ellis scored 100 for the Windsor Spitfires in 2010-11.
In a shocking turn of events at the Memorial Cup, London Knights’ forward, Sim, was ejected from the game for elbowing Saginaw Spirit’s player, Parekh. The incident occurred in the third period of the highly anticipated match-up between the two teams.
The play in question occurred as Parekh was skating towards the net with the puck, when Sim delivered a high elbow to his head, knocking him to the ice. The referees immediately assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct to Sim for the dangerous hit.
The ejection of Sim from the game had a significant impact on the outcome, as the Knights were forced to play shorthanded for the remainder of the game. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to overcome the deficit and ultimately fell to the Spirit.
The incident has sparked controversy and debate among fans and analysts alike, with many calling for further disciplinary action against Sim for his reckless play. The safety of players is of utmost importance in hockey, and hits like this serve as a reminder of the need for stricter enforcement of rules to protect players from unnecessary harm.
As both teams continue their quest for the Memorial Cup, it is crucial that incidents like this are addressed swiftly and appropriately to ensure the integrity and safety of the game. The league will likely review the play and determine if any further action is necessary to hold Sim accountable for his actions.
In the meantime, fans can only hope that players will learn from this incident and prioritize sportsmanship and fair play on the ice. The Memorial Cup is a prestigious tournament that showcases the best young talent in hockey, and it is important that all players conduct themselves with respect and integrity to uphold the spirit of the game.