Colorado loses 2 top players for Game 7
When the Texas Brahmas play the Colorado Eagles tonight in Game 7 in the Northern Conference finals, Colorado will be without two of its best players.
Captain Greg Pankewicz, who leads the Eagles in playoff goals and assists this season, and defenseman Jay Birnie each received three-game suspensions because of their actions during and after Game 6 on Monday.
After serving an interference penalty late in the game, Pankewicz (who has six goals and seven assists in 13 playoff games) went back on the ice and speared Brahmas defenseman Mike Vellinga and later tripped linesman T.J. Nua. Birnie instigated a fight with Texas' Jordan Cameron after the game was over.
"Greg was our playoff MVP last year," Colorado coach Chris Stewart said. "He's arguably one of the best players in the league. I'm disappointed; I don't really understand it. This will certainly be addressed again at the right time."
Bob Hoffman, the Central Hockey League's director of communications, said the suspensions were not subjective. Starting a fight outside of play and abusing an official both constitute automatic three-game suspensions.
"They did something wrong, and the league made the call," Brahmas coach Dan Wildfong said. "[Colorado] tries to intimidate you for the next game. They've been doing it ever since they joined the CHL. We didn't back down, but we didn't do anything stupid either."
Sixteen game misconducts were called after the final buzzer, largely because players from both teams left their benches.
Texas' Chris Thompson also took a slash to the back of his knees from Colorado's Fraser Filipic after the game. Filipic, who received a five-minute slashing major and a game misconduct, was fined an undisclosed amount but wasn't suspended. Both teams were fined undisclosed amounts.
The league hasn't shied away from suspensions in crucial games. New Mexico leading scorer Konrad Reeder was suspended for Game 6 of the Southern Conference semifinals after elbowing Arizona right wing Tyler Liebel in the head in Game 5. Arizona eliminated New Mexico with a 4-3 win in Game 6.
"The guys know what's at stake," Wildfong said. "We'll be ready to go. I'm just looking forward to a great Game 7. I don't want Game 6 to distract that. If we're thinking about what happened in Game 6, we're in trouble."
Getting tricky
By scoring three goals in the Brahmas' 5-4 win Monday, Anders Strome became the third Brahmas player to record a hat trick this postseason.
Scott Sheppard had a hat trick in Game 5 on Saturday, and Jordan Cameron had a hat trick against Bossier-Shreveport in the Northern Conference semifinals. The third goal for each player turned out to be the game-winner.
"I'm very happy with how he responded," Dan Wildfong said. "Some guys go the opposite way, but he jumped up and said, 'Look, I can do this.' As a coach, that's what you want."
BRAHMAS AT COLORADO
Series tied 3-3
Game 7: 8:05 tonight,
