The Val-d’Or Foreurs overcame the loss of their number one blueliner to defeat the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 in double-overtime. Now the Guelph Storm will be down a player for the remainder of the tournament.

Chadd Bauman has been suspended for his knee-on-knee hit on Foreurs defenseman Guillaume Gelinas.  The play happened in the third period of Monday night’s game, a 6-3 victory for Guelph.  With the win, the Storm clinched a berth in the Memoral Cup Final on Sunday.

Bauman’s absence will likely not impact the Storm’s championship chances.  The third-pair blueliner averaged less than three minutes per game.  His total ice time through two Memorial Cup games (4:49) was less than his time served on the kneeing major.   In 20 OHL playoff games, Bauman was scoreless and a minus-1.

Injury to Gelinas

“It’s a huge loss,” said Val d’Or head coach Mario Durocher in the Edmonton Journal, of the star defenseman’s absence from the lineup. “[Gelinas] played five-on-five against the best line for the last two years for us. We lost him in the playoffs last year and had problems against Boisbriand. It will be a huge loss. But, you know, that’s hockey. Hopefully, he will be able to play tomorrow. If not, somebody has to take his place, it’s as simple as that.”

Gelinas led all defensemen in scoring across the CHL. His 92 points were enough for seventh-best among all QMJHL skaters.

Gelinas was unable to play on Tuesday, when val-d’Or defeated the Oil Kings 4-3 in double-overtimes to reach the semi-finals.

“It was a hard time for me because I wanted to play and I tried very hard to play,” Gelinas said after the game, per Yahoo Sports. “It was too hard on one leg.”  He spent the game trying to focus on his return. “I was in the coach’s office. I iced it throughout the game,” he said. “I tried to do things that would make me feel better and not think about it.”

Val-d’Or’s Next Game

The Foreurs are back in action on Friday, but their opponent has not yet been determined.  Their blueline, though, could receive a signficant boost, as the injury to Gelinas may not be as severe as originally feared.

“I’m going to be fine for Friday; it’s only pain,” said Gelinas.

“That’s huge for us,” defenceman Randy Gazzola said. “We knew if he wasn’t [able to play], there was a big hole to fill. Obviously, he’s the best defenceman in the Q.”

 

Here’s the official release from the NHL (Yes, the NHL oversees Memoral Cup discipline):

Guelph Storm defenseman Chadd Bauman was suspended on Wednesday for the remainder of the Memorial Cup. The decision was made by the NHL Hockey Operations department, which oversees player discipline issues for the Canadian Hockey League during the Memorial Cup.

Baumann was assessed a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct after a collision with Val-d’Or Foreurs defenseman Guillaume Gelinas at 7:50 of the third period of the teams’ game Monday.

Gelinas did not return to the game after the incident.

Guelph plays its final game in the preliminary round Wednesday, against the host London Knights. As the only team to win its first two games in round-robin play, Guelph already has earned a spot in the championship game Sunday.

 

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