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Stay-Puft
12-02-2005, 09:58 AM
Just when things were falling into place for the Tri-City Americans, the team took a devastating blow Wednesday when the Western Hockey League suspended right wing Jason Beeman for four games.

Beeman, who was given a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct for a hit on Portland's Scott Gabriel, 17, at the end of Saturday's game, will miss tonight's game against Kootenay, as well as upcoming road games in Portland (Sunday), Kamloops (Tuesday) and Kelowna (Wednesday).

Gabriel suffered head, neck and shoulder injuries, including a concussion and whiplash. He is out indefinitely.

"He was following through on a dump-in. When he got his eyes up, he couldn't get his stick down," said Americans coach Don Nachbaur. "I think he has the right to defend himself, but not with his stick, and (Gabriel) ran into the stick. Jason plays the game hard. He wasn't out to hurt anyone."

It's the third time this season Beeman, the team's second-leading scorer, has been suspended. He missed the first two games of the season for a hit on Everest's Taylor Wellington in the Americans' final preseason game. He then served a three-game suspension for a hit on Seattle's James McRae on Nov. 11.

Richard Doerksen, the WHL's vice president of hockey, said Beeman's hit "was clearly an action that warranted discipline."

"Coupled with that, he's already been suspended twice, and that increased the suspension," Doerksen said. "It's a concern that a player has been dealt with under discipline three times, and we are roughly one-third of the way through the season. It's the league's job to make sure they are playing in a safe environment."

Americans assistant coach Gordie Frantti, who expressed his opinion of Beeman's penalty to referee Max Battimo, was given a game misconduct penalty and fined $250 by the league.

"You are always sad to a see a guy who has been a big part of your lineup leave the ice," Nachbaur said. "It's unfortunate. We've had our battles over this. We have to abide by it. But we got this nine-game thing started without Jason in the lineup."

Tri-Cities (9-11-3-1) has been on a nine-game point streak since Nov. 11 and is one point behind fourth-place Spokane in the U.S. Division. During the nine games, the Americans are 5-0-3-1, including a streak of two wins that saw goalie Carey Price record back-to-back shutouts against Kootenay and Everett.

"You don't look for one guy; it has to be a concerted team effort," Nachbaur said. "You aren't going to beat Kootenay with an individual effort. There are individuals playing better, but the team is moving around the ice in a more constructive manner and it has been easier for guys because of that."

Notes: Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used children's winter clothing to tonight's game to be exchanged for a coupon for free potato products courtesy of ConAgra Foods/Lamb Weston. ... The Americans' 2005 second-round bantam draft pick, Tyler Schmidt, was named the Defensive Player of the Week of the Manitoba AAA Midget League. Schmidt, who plays for the Winnipeg Thrashers, is second overall in the MMHL defenseman scoring with six goals and 14 assists.

Stay-Puft
12-02-2005, 10:08 AM
I would think that Proceshyn would be wearing the "A" again in Beeman's absence.