London Knights centre Kaleb Lawrence has been suspended five games for hit on Simon Motew.
The London Knights will be without centre Kaleb Lawrence for the next five games, as he has been suspended for a hit on Kitchener Rangers defenceman Simon Motew.
This was a hit to the head — a hit that we've seen suspended more than once in this year's OHL playoffs so far. It is called the most when a player comes from across the ice to deliver a hit to the head.
Liam Arnsby of the North Bay Battalion was also suspended for a hit to the head earlier in the playoffs, but this play happened a little slower than Arnsby's.
In Lawrence's suspendable hit, he also came from across the ice to deliver the hit on Motew, but he got his elbow up high at the very last second. Lawrence was not skating fast by any means, but his hit made Motew stay down on the ice for some time.
Kaleb Lawrence is a 6-foot-7 centreman who came to London in a trade from the Ottawa 67's at the OHL trade deadline. He's been playing a big enough role for the Knights through this playoff run so far, and he had 19 points in the final 28 games of the regular season with London.
The LA Kings draft pick plays a strong game, and Kitchener defenceman Simon Motew certainly felt the effects of that on this hit.
Lawrence will be out for the Knights for at least the remainder of this series, and into the next series if London makes it that far. They will have to find a substitution for Lawrence in his absence.
It looks like Sam O'Reilly, Jacob Julien, Will Nicholl, and Evan Van Gorp will fill the four centre spots in game four for the Knights on Thursday night.