Tommies forward Alexandre Leduc has been suspended indefinitely by head Troy Ryan for intent to injure following a dirty hit on St. Mary’s Huskies forward Brad Smith that left him with a broken ankle.
“This type of behavior is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated by our men’s hockey program,” said Ryan through an official press release.
During the third period of the Tommies and Huskies game on Saturday Oct. 27, Leduc checked Smith into the SMU bench door. The door was open as Smith was coming off for a line change and Leduc’s check saw Smith crash hard into the gap the open door vacated.
“Smith was the target because he happened to be in a vulnerable situation,” Ryan said, “and Alex took his frustrations out on him.”
The Tommies were trailing 4-0 at the time.
As Smith lay on the ice writhing in pain, Tommie and Huskie players came to blows, with plenty of shoving and the occasional punch thrown. Kyell Henegan and Nick Brown received 10 minute game misconducts on the play, while Leduc received the same fate and was tossed from the game.
Ryan said that he wanted to send a clear message to his team and that this type of behavior is unacceptable. There is currently no timetable for Leduc’s return to the 0-6 Tommies.
Through the first six games of the season, Leduc has one goal on seven shots. His plus/minus is E and he has 18 penalty minutes.
Leduc was recruited by Ryan during the off-season. He played for the Université de Moncton of the AUS during the 2010-2011 season where he registered 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 23 regular season games.
