In this Edition of IN THE BOX we will look at the top 5 penalized players in the OTHL. It is important to note that Chicago have 3 players in the top 10 and the New York Rangers have 2 players in the top 10 penalized players in the OTHL.
#1 FRANCIS LESSARD Chicago Black Hawks
In 58 games this season Lessard has had 1 fight, a win, and 4 ejections. Lessard has yet to be handed a suspension. In Lessard's last game he earned 13 PIM in 15 minutes played. In his last 5 games he has managed to tally 33 PIM, it is important to note however he did have game where he managed to spend no time in the SINBIN. Here is a look at Lessard's stats: 58G 3G 7A 10PTS -3 ± 261 PIM 106 Hits.
#2 CHRIS SIMON New York Rangers
In 55 games this season Simon has had 1 fight, a loss, and 2 ejections. Simon has been handed 1 suspension totaling 3 games. In Simon's last game he evaded the SINBIN, with that said is important to note he on;ly played 3 minutes. In his last 5 games however Simon has registered 20 PIM, 2 with the Rangers and 18 with the Flames, one game in fact he had 14 PIM. Here is a look at Simon's stats: 5 G 10G 3A 13PTS -3 ± 247 PIM 119 Hits.
#3 DALE PURINTON New York Rangers
In 60 games this season Purinton has had 5 fights, 2 losses, 3 draws and 3 ejections. Purinton sits atop the Enforcer standings with 495pts, 44 pts ahead of his closest rival for the award. Purinton remarkably avoided being suspended so far this season. In Purinton's last 5 games he has registered 15 PIM and he had 2 games where he stayed out of the SINBIN. Here is a look at Purinton's stats: 60 G 1G 10A 11PTS -26 ± 245 PIM 115 Hits.
#4 ERIC CAIRNS Phoenix Coyotes
In 60 games this season Cairn's has yet to drop the gloves, he hasn't even been tossed from a game which leads one to believe is that most of his penalties have been from diving! In Cairns last 5 games he has earned only 4 PIM, important to note is that Cairns has had 1 assist in his last 5 games. It makes one wonder if Cairns believes if he stops taking penalties he has a shot at the Lady Byng Trophy....NOT!!! Here is a look at Cairn's stats: 60G 7G 8A 15PTS 8 ± 193 PIM 180 Hits.
#5 SEAN AVERY Buffalo Sabres
In 57 games this season Avery has yet to dro[p his gloves, but to his credit he has been tossed from a game once and has 1 suspension resulting in 2 games in the press box. In Avery's last 5 games he has earned only 2 PIM, it is important for Avery's fan to note he has had limited ice time of late, he has just 28 minutes of ice time in his last 5 games, that's an average of 5.6 minutes/game. Here is a look at Avery's stats: 57G 5G 3A 8PTS -2 ± 185 PIM 52 Hits.
Honorable mention goes to the one team who submitted a player to the "Traveling Goon Show" a review of the top 5 knuckleheads.
The Toronto Maple Leafs contacted me and wanted to have their knucklehead Brian Marchment added to the top 5. Although he didn't get the manditory amount of penalties to make the top 5 he did however me some of the criteria so here we go!
**BRIAN MARCHMENT** HONORABLE MENTION
In 59 games this season Marchment has had 2 fights, 1 win and 1 draw and 2 ejections. Marchment has yet to be ejected this season in the OTHL but he has delivered some punishing hits, in game 778 Marchment delivered an elbow to the head of Shawn Horcoff that had Horcoff seeing stars for days and earned Marchment a game misconduct. In Marchment's last 5 games he has earned 13 minutes in the SINBIN including a major penalty in his last game for yet another elbow. Here is a look at Marchment's stats: 59G 3G 4A 7PTS 4 ± 114 PIM 104 Hits.
This is Jerry Stringer reporting for IN THE BOX.