The Anaheim Ducks announced this afternoon that forward Shawn Horcoff has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA’s Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
As part of the suspension, Horcoff will lose $357,526.88 of his salary for this year. He will be referred to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and potential treatment. Along with that, Horcoff has accepted responsibility for violating the program and issued a statement.
“While recovering from an injury I suffered this past fall, I tried a treatment that I believed would help speed up the healing process. Although I was unaware that this treatment was not permitted under NHL rules, that is no excuse whatsoever. I should have done my research and I should have checked with the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program’s doctors. I accept full responsibility for my actions and I am sorry.
The news of a suspension was first broken by TSN’s Mike Johnson on Twitter. Around 1:15 the news broke that Horcoff would be suspended.
Horcoff facing 20 game suspension for “violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.”
— Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) January 26, 2016
In a statement released this morning Anaheim’s GM Bob Murry released a statement saying the team would support Horcoff.
“This morning we were made aware of the situation regarding Shawn Horcoff. The Anaheim Ducks organization fully supports the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. We will also continue to support Shawn as a player and person throughout this process. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Horcoff has played 45 games four the Ducks this season recording 10 points (6G, 4A). He is the fourth player suspended under the NHL/NHLPA policy. The three previous players were the Toronto Maple Leaf’s Carter Ashton in 2014, New York Islanders defenceman Sean Hill in 2007 and Buffalo forward Zenon Konopka in 2014.
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