Calgary Flames Defenseman Suspended Indefinitely
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL, as a result of his cross-check on linesman Don Henderson.
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Whilst the incident is still pending a hearing with the NHL Hockey Operations department, both the Calgary Flames and Dennis Wideman have been advised, per CBS Sports, of his indefinite suspension.
The suspension, unfortunately comes as no real surprise. Regardless of what the player has said since, all replays make the act look rather deliberate on the part of the Calgary Flames player.
As discussed yesterday, there are a few different rules regarding violent acts towards officials. The minimum expectation right now is that the Calgary Flames will be missing him for at least ten games, if not twenty or more.
Related Story: Calgary Flames Should Expect Dennis Wideman Suspension
Don Henderson, the linesman who found himself knocked to the ice underwent concussion protocol, ending up in hospital with neck pain and nausea.
Dennis Wideman doesn’t really have a chequered suspension history with the Calgary Flames or any other of his previous NHL teams. He hasn’t previously seen any sort of lengthy suspension and isn’t widely known as a dirty player.
Also going for the Calgary Flames defenseman is the fact he wasn’t penalised on the ice; should that have occurred, a suspension would’ve been dealt as an absolute certainty.
Right now, he has his defence of not seeing the official until the last minute and could argue he was dazed by the heavy hit he’d just taken on the boards.
However, the sheer fact that it looked to be a clear cross-check complete with raised stick and follow-through overrides all of this; it looked deliberate and unless they can get inside Wideman’s head, they’ll never know if he was seeing the official as an opposing player or an official.
The Calgary Flames are surely resigned to the fact Wideman will be missing games now, we just have to wait and see how many.
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How long do you expect Dennis Wideman to be suspended for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.