PK Sport - Raleigh Sports Examiner: Tom Kuhnhackl

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

OHL justice handed down after Murphy suffers concussion

Ryan Murphy - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

On Tuesday, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) handed down its strongest punishment to date this season in assessing Pittsburgh prospect and Niagara IceDogs forward Tom Kuhnhackl a 20-game suspension as a result of a hit he placed on Carolina Hurricanes prospect and Kitchener Ranger Ryan Murphy last Friday night.

A copy of the rationale used by the league to assess the punishment is available for view on the OHL's web site, under the Discipline section.

Even though Murphy skated off on his own after the hit and played a shift afterward, it has been reported by various sources, including the Waterloo Record, that he suffered a concussion as a result of the incident.

Aside from keeping him from further play with the Rangers, the concussion has denied Murphy the opportunity to play in the Subway Super Series featuring OHL all-stars against the best young players from Russia and puts into question his ability to compete for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships (WJHC).

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Saturday, November 5, 2011

Hurricanes future on defense gets hit hard

Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy, the Carolina Hurricanes' top pick (12^th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft was hit hard during an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) game between his junior club, the Kitchener Rangers, and the Niagara IceDogs on Friday night in Kitchener, Ontario.

According to a report from the Waterloo Record, Murphy was hit by IceDogs player Tom Kuhnhackl on a play behind the Kitchener net.

Kuhnhackl appeared to have left his feet before he contacted Murphy into the boards leaving the Carolina prospect on the ice lying motionless for a time before getting up and leaving the ice surface on his own.

Murphy is not playing in the Rangers lineup in Saturday's return game against the IceDogs and is listed with an upper-body injury.

The OHL suspended Kuhnhackl for Saturday's game and further suspension is under consideration by the league.

There has been no subsequent report on Murphy's condition since Friday night's game which has many in Kitchener and Raleigh, N.C. concerned on the future of the talented young defenseman.

It's not the first time that Murphy has been sidelined with a similar injury as he sat out a few games back in March 2011 after taking an elbow to the face in a game against the Kingston Frontenacs.

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