Canucks without coach for two games
The Niagara Falls Canucks with be without Frank Pietrangelo for the next two games after the head coach was suspended for an incident following the Canucks 4-3 overtime win Wednesday at St. Catharines.
The Canucks and Falcons are tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference championship final. Game 5 is tonight in Niagara Falls with Game 6 in St. Catharines Sunday.
Pietrangelo was assessed a GM81 Leaving the Bench (Coach) (Game Misconduct) when a scuffle ensued following the Canucks overtime win as the Niagara Falls players jumped on the ice to celebrate.
Coaches are instructed to wait for a signal from an official before releasing the players. Pietrangelo said the club has a tape showing an official waving the players on the ice and has sent the tape to the Ontario Hockey Association, but have yet to receive a response.
Pietrangelo downplayed the suspension.
“I can’t coach,” he said. “It’s part of the game. I’ve missed games before and it is what it is. Am I happy about it? Of course not.
“Nothing is going to change with me standing behind the bench or not. These guys know what to do. My coaches have been with me for years and the boys know what’s up.
“We’ve played without players and tonight they play without me.”
Former Canucks Joseph Pantusa and Austin Wright have assisted Pietrangelo all season.
The Canucks with also be without Patrick McCabe, who was also suspended for two games after he was assessed a gross misconduct in the post-game scuffle.
The winner of the Golden Horseshoe advances to the Sutherland Cup semifinal playoffs. The London Nationals have already captured the Western Conference championship with a 4-0 sweep over the Leamington Flyers while the Waterloo Siskins lead the Listowel Cyclones 3-1 in the Midwest Conference finals. Game 5 in that set is Friday.
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