Greyhounds’ Travis Hayes Central to OHL Suspensions After Violent Matches

Travis Hayes, a forward for the Soo Greyhounds, became a pivotal figure in a series of suspensions issued by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) following two contentious matches. Hayes endured dangerous cross-checks to the face from two larger defencemen, both of whom are NHL draft picks. These incidents resulted in significant disciplinary actions against both players.

On November 7, Grant Spada of the Guelph Storm, a seventh-round selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning and standing at 6-foot-4, received a three-game suspension for a match penalty during a game involving the Greyhounds. The following night, Gabriel Eliasson of the Barrie Colts, a towering 6-foot-7 defenceman who was drafted in the second round by the Ottawa Senators, was suspended for two games due to a major penalty incurred during a hard-fought shootout victory for the Greyhounds.

Eliasson’s penalty occurred in a heated moment of the game, culminating in a confrontation after Marco Mignosa scored the decisive shootout goal. As both players lined up for a face-off in the third period, Eliasson delivered a two-handed cross-check to Hayes’ head, leaving a visible mark on Hayes’ nose from his own visor. Reflecting on the incident, Hayes remarked, “We were going at it quite a bit during the game, and then he decided to cross-check me. So, stupid play by him.”

Barrie Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz offered a different perspective on the play, stating, “You hate to see it. Off a face-off, a guy who’s 6-foot-7 goes against a guy who’s a little bit smaller, and he gets it up in his face.” Fortunately, Hayes did not suffer any injuries from the incident. When asked whether he believed Eliasson deserved disciplinary action, Hayes simply stated, “I hope so.”

In addition to the suspensions for Spada and Eliasson, the OHL’s disciplinary office also issued one-game suspensions to Soo forwards Blake Arrowsmith and Spencer Evans for their involvement in a post-game altercation. Arrowsmith was seen jabbing his stick under Barrie’s Calvin Crombie’s visor, while Evans was actively taunting opponents during the scuffle, leading to their respective suspensions. Both players will miss the Greyhounds’ upcoming game against the Windsor Spitfires on November 9.

The situation escalated further when Barrie’s defenceman, Kashawn Aitcheson, received a two-game suspension after being captured on video throwing water at an agitated fan while leaving the ice.

Despite the tumultuous events, Hayes expressed pride in his team’s response to the confrontations. “Their guys were talking all game, from the puck drop to the end,” he noted after the Greyhounds’ thrilling 4-3 comeback victory that snapped a two-game losing streak. “It shows that we have a lot of heart and passion on this team,” he added, highlighting his current season performance of six goals and 11 points across 20 games.

The Greyhounds are set to face the Windsor Spitfires on November 9 at 19:05, eager to build on their recent success and demonstrate their resilience in the face of adversity.