QMJHL suspends Mooseheads, Sea Dogs players after fight

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has suspended Halifax Mooseheads centre Kelly Bent andSaint John Sea Dogs left wing Bokondji Imamaafter a fight Friday night in Halifax.

The league's director of player safety, RaymondBolduc, suspended Bent for a total offive games.Imamahas been suspended for 15 games.

It took several referees to break up the confrontation.

"It's the first time I've seen, in the Quebec League, where has player has shown complete disregard for the officials,"saidJohn Moore, a long-time sports broadcaster and game caller for the Halifax Mooseheads.

"It went on. It was well over a minute with the officials trying to protect Bent and Imama continually trying to chase him down."

Hopping the board

Moore says it all started when Bent, 20, "got tangled up" with Joe Veleno, a 15-year-old centre for the Saint Johns Sea Dogs.Valeno is one of the league's youngest players.

"They were grappling with each other and pushing and shoving. The next thing you know, there were a few players coming to the defence of Joe Veleno, who again, is five years younger than Bent," said Moore, who uploaded a video of the fight to his Youtube page.

"There's almost an unwritten rule that 20yearolds don't fight with the 16yearolds and this kid is even a year younger," he said.

"EventuallyBokondji Imama of the Saint Johns Sea Dogs a 19-year-old enforcer hopped the boards and tried to get ahold of Kelly Bent who was being, well, restrained by officials."

No apologies

Moore says this fight was Imama's second offense. He was suspended four games earlier in Rimouski.

"I knew a stiff suspension was coming.I wasn't sure it would get as high as 15 games. It'll keep him out for well over a month," he said.

"There was a lot of blame to be passed around for the incident ...it was a little ugly to be quite honest and I think both teams may have been embarrassed."