The claim is that Tricky Ricky merely cross-checked to the chest and not the neck/jaw of Shawn Maltby.... and that he doesn't deserve an eight match ban.

Rick Brebant, they say, is innocent and would never do anything like that. He's a really nice bloke. The kind of bloke you'd invite to your daughter's 16th birthday party.

Rick's boss, Mike Blaisdell said he'd be "embarrassed" to collapse like Maltby after being smacked in the head with a horizontal stick.

Thunderflash would like to point out that we'd be "embarrassed" to appear on the Generation Game in our undies whilst putting on our protective gear ... not that that ever stopped Mr Brebant ... and no we haven't got the video but we assure you its true!!

Meanwhile, here's some other things Rick Brebant would never do ...

Rick Brebant: He would never do a thing like dye his hair blonde	Rick Brebant: He would never do a thing like get involved in fisticuffs	Rick Brebant: He would never do a thing like leave a club half way through the season intent on joining their bitterest rivals