Soo Greyhounds' Jakub Winkelhofer healthy, Kitchener Rangers' Matthew Hlacar suspended 6 games for blindside hit

The Soo Greyhounds will have a major boost ahead of Wednesday’s divisional showdown against the Saginaw Spirit, as defenseman Jakub Winkelhofer has been cleared to return to the lineup after taking a blindside hit last Friday from Kitchener Rangers’ forward Matthew Hlacar. Article content

The OHL announced Wednesday afternoon that Hlacar has been suspended for six games as a result of the hit that sent Winkelhofer head-first into the boards late in the second period of the Oct. 10 game at GFL Memorial Gardens. Article content Article content

At the time, Hlacar was assessed a match penalty for blindsiding with 2:42 remaining in the second frame. On Wednesday, the OHL’s department of player safety called the hit “late” and “from the backside to a player that would not be aware of th