OHLer Luke Dragusica suspended for rest of 2025-26 after slashing opponent in head

The Ontario Hockey League announced on Friday that Brampton Steelheads defenseman Luke Dragusica has been suspended for the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs after slashing Oshawa Generals defenseman Brady Blaseg in the head.

The suspending incident in question occurred on Friday, October 14th in a game between the Steelheads and the Generals. Late in the third period, Dragusica was checked behind the Steelheads net by Blaseg and Franssen Harrison. Clearly in a state of frustration, Dragusica spotted Blaseg skating after getting up from the hit, and approached the defenseman and slashed him from behind in the head. Dragusica then proceeded to cross-check Blaseg while the Generals defender was down on the ice from the slash before Blaseg’s teammates came to his defense. Dragusica received a match penalty for the infraction.

The OHL announced that Dragusica would be suspended the following day, but a duration for the suspension had not officially been announced, as the league was reviewing the play before determining how long he should be suspended.

But this Friday, the book was thrown at Dragusica, with the league determining that he will be suspended for the entirety of the season. The Steelheads were only 19 games into their regular season at the time of the infraction, which means that Dragusica will miss at least 49 games, along with any playoff games that Brampton plays.

“This decision follows a comprehensive review of the incident by the OHL Department of Player Safety that incorporated video, game reports, interviews and submissions from both Clubs,” the OHL said in a statement regarding the suspension. “The deliberate use of a stick as a weapon to an opponent’s head, followed by further contact on a defenseless player, is a dangerous and unacceptable act that has no place in the OHL.”

As part of this suspension, Dragusica will also have to complete league-mandated education, counselling and community service programs, as well as appear before a reinstatement panel before he is eligible to apply for reinstatement for the 2026-27 season.

Dragusica finishes his OHL season having just two assists in 15 games for the Steelheads before the suspension. He was eligible to be drafted in the 2025 NHL Draft, but injuries limited his playing time to just eight games, which kept him off of any radar at the draft. Dragusica is also draft eligible for the 2026 Draft, but will most likely not be drafted after the suspension.

Barring a significant playoff run by the Steelheads, Dragusica will fall short of the longest suspension of an OHL player, which belongs to Michael Liambas, who was suspended for 68 games of the Erie Otters’ 2009-10 season after a check to the head of the Kitchener Rangers’ Ben Fanelli.