Moose Lose Former Viper Volpatti For Game 4:

Moose lose Volpatti for Game 4

By KEN WIEBE, Winnipeg Sun

Last Updated: April 20, 2010

(Winnipeg Sun) The Manitoba Moose will be without one of their most physical players for Wednesday’s game against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

During his morning meeting with the media, Moose head coach Scott Arniel confirmed that left-winger Aaron Volpatti will indeed sit out the one-game suspension that comes with receiving an instigating penalty in the final five minutes of the game.

Volpatti was assessed the penalty, along with a fighting major and 10-minute misconduct, with 3:02 left in regulation of Monday’s 7-2 Moose victory over the Bulldogs, while coming to the defence of defenceman Ryan McGinnis — who was the recipient of a high hit from Hamilton forward Ryan White.

“It’s pretty clear-cut, if you get an instigator in the final five minutes it’s an automatic one-game suspension,” said Moose head coach Scott Arniel, who had hoped the incident would be reviewed and overturned. “In past history, if there were two willing combatants and it looked like there was, sometimes it got tossed out.”

But it won’t be tossed out in this case.

The Moose don’t plan to send video of the high hit by White, which went unpenalized, to the league office to be reviewed either.

Volpatti was disappointed he’d have to sit down for an important playoff game, but knew he did what had to be done in engaging in a scrap with White.

“It all happened pretty fast but I saw him (White) charging in from the red line,” said Volpatti. “It looked like a cheap hit, so I went in there and didn’t even really think about it.”

The loss of Volpatti opens up a spot on Manitoba’s checking line with Yan Stastny and captain Mike Keane.

Candidates to replace Volpatti on Wednesday include Tommy Maxwell, Dusty Collins and Lucas Bloodoff, who joined the Moose after completing his Western Hockey League career with the Kelowna Rockets.

The Moose, who trail the best-of-7 North Division semifinal 2-1, held an optional practice on Tuesday at the MTS Centre, while the Bulldogs opted to stay away from the rink.

Game time is 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday.