Detroit Red Wings winger Luke Witkowski was suspended for 10 games by the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety on Thursday. Witkowski was automatically suspended under Rule 70.6- returning to the ice to take part in an altercation after being escorted off by an official. The incident occurred on Wednesday night when the Red Wings took on the Calgary Flames.

Detroit’s Luke Witkowski automatically suspended ten games under rule 70.6 for actions during last night’s game against Calgary. Video to follow.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 16, 2017

Luke Witkowski Suspended 10 Games

The suspension will begin Friday night and will run through December 9th. Rule 70.6 officially states “Any player or goalkeeper who has been ordered to the dressing room by the officials and returns to his bench or to the ice surface for any reason before the appropriate time shall be assessed a game misconduct and shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next ten (10) regular League and/or Play-off games.”

Late in the third period during Wednesday’s match-up, Witkowski was ejected from the game for a brawl by officials and on his way down the tunnel, Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk speared Witkowski in the back of the legs. Witkowski proceeded to turn around and charge back out onto the ice, where a scrum and fight followed. See the full incident below.

Career

Witkowski has only appeared in eight games for Detroit this season and has recorded zero points. The 27-year-old, who is in his first season with Detroit, has spent the previous three seasons as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he played in a total of 54 games. In those games, he tallied only four assists.

Though he may not be a big-time point producer, he is popular in the Red Wings locker room. Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill had this to say regarding Witkowski and his presence in the line-up-  “I can tell you that I hear it from the bench — when Witter is in the lineup, they’re glad he is in the lineup. I can hear their chatter. They know there is an element of physicality and toughness. He’s a good hockey player but he’s also tough. Our bench knows it when he is the lineup. You know someone is going to be out there sticking up for you.” (Via the Detroit Free Press)

Witkowski is eligible to return on December 9 when the Red Wings take on the St. Louis Blues.

Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images