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2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup: Jonathan Huberdeau elbow causes controversy (VIDEO)

SHAWINIGAN, Que. — For the second year in a row, a team captain has sparked a debate over a suspension at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. And this time it was for a play reminiscent to one where Saint John Sea Dogs star Jonathan Huberdeau earned a suspension in the QMJHL playoffs.

The fallout from the one-game ban Kootenay Ice captain Brayden McNabb received for ending the 2011 Memorial Cup for Owen Sound's Joey Hishon prompted the Canadian Hockey League to overhaul its disciplinary procedure for the tournament. McNabb missed one game for a head shot on Hishon, who has not played since, but it left a sour taste after Kootenay later ousted Owen Sound.

Huberdeau got an elbowing penalty on the opening shift of Saint John's eventual 5-3 loss to the London Knights after catching Matt Rupert in the head with his elbow. Among the media, there was speculation in the morning the reigning MasterCard Memorial Cup MVP would be suspended at least one game. The Sea Dogs said it
In other words, Huberdeau missed his possible last home game in Saint John due to a suspension and could miss part of the biggest tournament in major junior hockey. As of 1:45 p.m. ET, though, there had be no word whether the panel of three league vice-presidents was going to discipline Huberdeau. So it appears the star is in the clear.

"I didn't know it was that bad until I saw it on tape," Knights coach-GM Mark Hunter said on Sunday. "It wasn't good."

McNabb's suspension was the first at the tournament in 12 years and it was, frankly, a bad hit. By the strict letter of the law, Huberdeau did contact the head of Rupert, but the Sea Dogs believed the two-minute minor penalty was sufficient.

"To me, it's an elbowing penalty," Sea Dogs coach Gerard Gallant said. "He elbowed the guy in the head. It's a two-minute penalty. If he had injured the guy or if it had been a vicious hit, then you would give a five and a game [major and game misconduct] and then they look at it."

The mystery might have stemmed as much from the fact there's a new procedure for suspensions, where the OHL's Ted Baker, WHL's Richard Doerksen and QMJHL's Marcel Patenaude all have a say. All three leagues' standards vary in strictness. The OHL is generally considered the most draconian.

"They always say, 'it was a head shot,' " Gallant added. "The OHL and the Western Hockey League do things different with their suspensions. It's been that way all season. I don't know what's going to come about. He got a two-minute penalty for it. That's the call. If it was the OHL, maybe he'd get a three- or four-game suspension.

"They're fair, they're try to do their best and it's different when you have all three leagues coming together."

Huberdeau's elbow on Rupert and his check behind on the Chicoutimi Saguenéens' Charles Hudon in the Sea Dogs' semifinal series were both on the first shift of the game and along the half-wall to the left of the goal.

While Huberdeau might have reckless with his elbow, this wasn't to the same degree as McNabb on Hishon.

The damage done isn't supposed to count as much as intent. Rupert finished the game Saturday with no ill effects. In contrast, Hishon, a Colorado Avalanche first-round pick who should have started his pro career this season, hasn't played since that collision with McNabb.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (video: Telus, Sportsnet).