Skyhawks lose game 4 by protest and fall in game 5

It will be a day that the North Bay Skyhawks franchise will likely never forget. After defeating the Abitibi Eskimos on Friday night 5-4 in overtime, the NOHA approved a protest by the Abitibi Eskimos over a goal that was called back in overtime.

The Skyhawks got the news around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday only hours before game 5.

The protest was a huge letdown for the Skyhawks and a huge boost for the hometown Abitibi Eskimos who went on to pound the Skyhawks 8-1 at the Jus Jordan arena in Iroquois Falls. Jermie Dorval led the Eskies with a pair of goals including the game winner while Jordan Carroll scored the lone goal for the Skyhawks who are now facing elimination down 3 games to 2 heading home for game 6 at Memorial Gardens Sunday night.

The Eskimos felt they won game 4 in overtime and had already celebrated and left the ice before on-ice officials gathered and decided that goaltender interference on Skyhawks goalie Andre Laperriere would nullify the Eskimos goal.

Skyhawks forward Dustin Fummerton would go on to score what many at Memorial Gardens felt was the overtime winner.

On the NOJHL website it states that the the Board of Directors of the NOHA ruled in favour of a protest initiated by the Abitibi Eskimos of the NOJHL. As such, the result of the game four encounter between the North Bay Skyhawks and Abitibi Eskimos has been amended to read as follows:

Abitibi Eskimos - 5
North Bay Skyhawks - 4

The press release goes on to say that the basis of the protest and subsequent ruling was a disallowed Abitibi goal that occurred at 2:43 of the first overtime period. The NOHA ruled that based on the events that transpired, the goal should NOT have been disallowed and effectively awarded the victory to the Abitibi Eskimos.

A disappointed head coach Ian Swalucynski had very little to say about the protest or the lopsided victory for the Eskimos.

He now has the challenge of trying to get his club re-focussed and ready to force a game 7 back in Iroquois Falls or have their season end on home ice Sunday night.

Skyhawks G.M. Guy Blanchard was obviously disappointed by the ruling but he says the ruling was changed because a linesman is not permitted to call a penalty in the NOJHL.

“It’s unfortunate for everyone but that’s what it is and you can’t do much about,” said Blanchard in a phone interview late Saturday night.

“Right now we need to get healthy and play tomorrow. For us now we have to play two game 7’s.”