issue 09 / volume 41

Slava Voynov suspended for
domestic abuse allegations

» NHL investigating case; Voynov's suspension indefinite

Michael Sopow
Sports Reporter

n October 20, Los Angeles

Kings defenceman
Slava Voynov was suspended
indefinitely from all team
activities based on domestic
violence allegations. Voynov
will not be able to participate
in team practices or take part
in any NHL games as the

league investigates his charges, :

but will still receive pay.

No identifying information :

of the accuser has been made
public by police due to the

victim’s right to confidentiality. :

Voynov’s suspension was
enacted based ona section
of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement, which was
introduced in September 2012
and approved by the NHL
Players’ Association (NHLPA)
in January 2013. Section 18-A.5
covers criminal investigation
regarding off-ice incidents, in
this case, Voynov’s arrest for
suspected domestic abuse.
The section states, “The

pending the League’s formal
review and disposition of the
matter where the failure to
suspend the player during

: this period would create a

: substantial risk of material
League may suspend the player : harm to the legitimate .

: interests and/or reputation of

the League.”

|

The Kings supported the

NHL's decision and issued their :

 

: own statement on the issue:
“We will continue to take
: appropriate action as the

: legal proceedings and the

: investigation by the NHL take
: their course.”

Regarding the issue of

: domestic violence in sports,

: the NFL in comparison

: has undergone widespread

: criticism over the past several
: years for its handling of

: various cases where players

: were accused of domestic

news // 5

: violence. One of the most

: notable examples regarding the
: NFL to date is with Baltimore
: Ravens’ Ray Rice, whose case

: was handled minimally until

: footage of him attacking his

: then-fiancée, Janay Palmer,

: reached the mainstream

: months later. The NHL in

: contrast acted immediately in
: their situation with Voynov,

: suspending him the same day
: that he was arrested.

According to NHL

: commissioner Gary Bettman

: ina pre-game interview, the

: NHLPA and the league have

: cooperated in addressing the
. } matter of domestic violence for
*! more than 10 years. Meetings
: with the league’s department
: of security and counsellors

: employed to assist the NHL/

: NHLPA substance abuse and

: behavioural health program

: were arranged to focus on the
: concern of domestic violence.

Bettman expressed his

: assurance in the league’s

: jurisdiction when presented

: with problematic events.

: Despite the Voynov case,

: Bettman defended the league
: by stating, “Our players know
: what’s right and wrong.”

 

Above and beyond

» Royals fare well at PACWEST provincials; men’s team qualifies for nationals

Michael Sopow
Sports Reporter

he Douglas College Royals

men’s and women’s soccer
teams both had respectable
ends to their 2014/15 regular
seasons before they began the
exhilarating and nerve-racking
transition to the PACWEST
Provincial Championships.

The women, who
notably began the year with
an impressive 5-0 record,
concluded their regular season
second only to the Vancouver
Island University (VIU)
Mariners, short by just a three-
point deficit. Nicolle Fraser,
Danae Harding, and Marni
McMillan—three dangerous
offensive players throughout
the season—were named

was deservingly named Player
of the Year.

“T am incredibly proud of
the team’s efforts,” said Chris
Laxton, head coach of the
women’s team. “They showed

: up at every session ready to

: work and ready to learn. We :
: couldn't have asked for anything :
: better.”

Additionally, Douglas’

: men’s team also finished their

: regular season in second place

: behind the Mariners. Douglas’
: team was led by Spencer

: Deboice and Mark Baldisimo—
: two of the league's top

: scorers—and Devin Phelan, a

: key defensive contributor. They
: were named to the Conference
: All-Star team for their efforts.

The women’s team had

: an overall strong showing at
: the PACWEST provincials.

: They played their first game
: against the Langara Falcons and :
: seemed to have “a very nervous
: first half,” according to Laxton.
: “Other than Nicolle hitting
Conference All-Stars; McMillan :
: by Rebecca [Mainardi], there
: weren't too many chances.

the crossbar and a great save

“We got stronger and

: stronger in the second and
: really controlled the match.”

Langara then scored a

: highly controversial goal,
: which took the game into

extra time, where Langara

: ended up winning the match

: 2-1. “We created chances but

: couldn't convert. It was a very

: disappointing way to lose,” said
: Laxton.

The women’s second

: game—the match deciding the
: bronze medal—had a more

: positive progression. “Douglas
: College dominated the first

: 30 minutes of each half,’ said

: Laxton. “Our goal came in the

: 15th minute from Marni froma :
: free kick that she had won. They :
: scored in the 75th minute on
: a breakaway. We played some

excellent attacking soccer but

: did not capitalize. The match

: went straight to penalties, where :

: we won 5-4 after six shooters

: each. We shot first and Rebecca

: made the decisive save on their

: sixth shooter. It was the final

: match for the Melvins, who will

: be greatly missed on the pitch.”

The men’s team successfully :
: provincial championship and

: half of overtime, the Royals

: managed to capitalize, giving

: Douglas College a 1-0 lead over
: the Eagles and a noticeable

: boost of motivation. The second :
: half of overtime proceeded and

: of a goal. They attempted to
: fight their way to an equalizer,
: but near the ending moments

: h time, Douglas :
: of the second overtime, Douglas : the second- and first-placed

: teams ina heated battle for

: the championship and the

: gold, extra time could not do

: the game justice. The match

: proceeded into penalties, where
: Douglas College returned

: triumphant as the new

: provincial champions.

: took the victory.

: the Royals faced the daunting

: first seed, VIU. The game was

: composed of intense and

: fierce competition, both teams

: qualified for the gold medal

: match and a trip to nationals :
: with a 2-0 semi-final win against :
: the Kwantlen Eagles. The game:
: was an equally fought battle

: with neither team being able

: to score throughout the first :
: go-minutes of the match, taking :
: the game into overtime. :

However, late into the first

Kwantlen was in desperate need :

scored an insurance goal and

In the gold medal game,

striving to take home the

“Tam incredibly
proud of the team’s
efforts.”

— Chris Laxton,
head coach of the
women’s team

: the gold medal. The Royals

: were valiant in their efforts,

: expressed on the field as they

: managed to score take the lead
> 1-0.

However, the Mariners’

: offence managed to equalize

: the score in the second half of
: the match and drag the game
: into extra time. Having both