MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Brayden McNabb is the most talked-about player at the Memorial Cup today. That's not a good thing.
McNabb and his Kootenay Ice are expected to learn early this afternoon whether the Sabres' prospect will be suspended for tonight's Memorial Cup game against host St. Michael's. McNabb stepped up to check Owen Sound's Joey Hishon on Saturday night, and his elbow connected with Hishon's head when the forward tried to dodge the hit.
McNabb was said to be undergoing medical treatment this morning and was not available, but Kootenay coach Kris Knoblauch reiterated his belief the hit was not worthy of a suspension.
"He’s made that hit countless times and has never been suspended for it," Knoblauch said in Hershey Centre. "Last night, as I said, it was a tall player hitting a small player. Joey Hishon was trying to dodge the hit, and it was pretty difficult for Brayden to get his elbow out of the way in such a short period of time. Yes, there was contact with his elbow to the head. It’s a very difficult thing. There was no intention to hurt whatsoever.
"Like I said, Brayden McNabb does that almost every game or every other game. I’ve seen it so many times from him. It’s just very unfortunate that it turned out the way it did."
---John Vogl
