Following an incident where Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman crosschecked linesman Don Henderson on Wednesday night against the Nashville Predators, the NHL has reported that Wideman is suspended indefinitely.
The crosscheck occurred after Wideman got up shaking up from a hit from Predators forward Mikka Salomaki. Following the hit Wideman tried skating off clenched over as he made his way to the Flames bench, where on his way he came up and crosschecked Don Henderson from behind.
Dennis Wideman Suspended Indefinitely
Wideman claimed that the hit that Salomaki hit him really hard making him see a daze after he got up to go to the bench.
“I took a pretty hard hit down in the corner and had some pretty good pain in my shoulder and my neck and I was just trying to get off the ice and I was kinda keeled over and at the last second, I looked up and I saw him and I couldn’t avoid it,” said Wideman.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been around for a few years and I’ve treated every official with the utmost respect. I would never intentionally try to hit a linesman or a ref. It was completely unintentional and I already apologized to him.” said Wideman following his actions.
Rule 40 in the rulebook says if a player hits a ref with an intent to injure, he is automatically suspended 20 or more games. However, the league is going to review it and he could end up with less if it is deemed that Wideman did not in fact try to injure Henderson with the crosscheck from behind. It is expected to be at least 10 games.
Wideman (32) has 2 goals and 19 points in 48 games so far this season. He has no history of suspension in his past, which could play a little in his favor when his suspension comes down.
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