Soo Greyhounds’ Nick Cousins suspended for check from behind, which could cost him OHL scoring title

The stranger than fiction season of Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nick Cousins has taken another twist. As most who saw the play on Friday anticipated, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds centre who always manages to push the bile to the tip of opponents' throats while putting up points by the bushel has been suspended by the OHL.

Cousins received a checking-from-behind major/game misconduct during Sault Ste. Marie's eventual 4-3 overtime loss Friday against the London Knights, with whom he has a history of animosity. The Greyhounds' defence was that the check on London's Tommy Hughes hit was not "malicious," but it has warranted a look from the OHL. Cousins has 98 points in 58 games. Sarnia Sting overage centre Charlie Sarault has 97 and his team has three fewer games left than the Greyhounds do, so this might tip the scales. The Greyhounds are two points out fifth place in the OHL's Western Conference entering Sunday's action and any prolonged absence of Cousins will surely hurt.

Meantime, as a week in the life of a junior player goes, this was exceptional. Cousins had his tires pumped on Tuesday, which seemed rather tone-deaf. It's always best not to be too laudatory about an athlete who has a court case pending through the legal system. (Cousins and two other players who were arrested and charged with sexual assault last August have a court date on Monday, in fact.) Then Cousins lit up Sarnia for six points on Wednesday to take a big lead in the scoring race, only to get ejected 48 hours later while Sarault closed the gap with a seven-point night.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.