Doyle handed big suspension

David Branch delivered his own knockout hit on Wednesday and Jeff Doyle felt the full effects of the blow.

Doyle was handed a 15-game suspension by the Ontario Hockey League commissioner after a hit on Windsor Spitfires forward Steve Downie in the Greyhounds dramatic 5-4 overtime win over the Spitfires last Friday.

The hit left Downie laying on the ice unconscious for a short time. Referee Brad Beer did not see the hit that occurred behind the play and did not assess a penalty.

Doyle had been suspended by the league following the game pending further review.

The suspension, in effect, could end the OHL career of Doyle, who is competing in his overage year.

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Greyhounds would need to advance to at least to the second round of playoffs before Doyle would be eligible to return.

The punishment was the third one handed down against Doyle this season. Doyle was suspended five games for elbowing back in October and a single game for publicly criticizing a referee in the media in November.

Doyle's offense will be a huge void for the Greyhounds down the stretch drive. The winger is third in team scoring with 19 goals, 28 assists and 47 points in 56 games.

The Greyhounds return to action on Thursday in Sarnia against the Sting at 7:30 p.m. before visiting the London Knights on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The following is a full-text release from the OHL on Wednesday:

*********************************************************** OHL announces disciplinary action to player Jeff Doyle of the Sault Ste. Marie Hockey Club

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of its review of an incident of a game played in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on the 27th of February 2004 involving the Greyhounds and the visiting Windsor Spitfires.

The incident in question involved player Jeff Doyle of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Hockey Club and his physical interaction with player Steve Downie of the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club.

"The League is of the opinion that player Jeff Doyle struck the unsuspecting opposing Windsor player in the head area causing injury to the Spitfires player," said OHL Commissioner David Branch.

"The League has previously clearly stated that blows to the head are extremely dangerous and that we must all work to remove these type of actions from our game.

"We are of the opinion that player Doyle's actions were unprovoked, uncalled for and most dangerous."

It is the position of the Ontario Hockey League that player Jeff Doyle of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Hockey Club be suspended for 15 games.

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