OHLer Suspended 20 Games In Wild Stick-Swinging Melee.
For left winger Ryan Barnes, it was three strikes and you're out…for 25 games.
Barnes, with the Ontario League's Barrie Colts, was one of 13 players suspended for a total of 75 games by the OHL Oct. 8 as a result of a headshaking brawl between Barrie and host Oshawa Generals Oct. 3.
Four players were suspended for the stick-swinging melee between the team's benches. Barnes took three full swings-one of which connected with the hand of Generals' assistant coach Curtis Hodgins, shattering his finger. This is the second time Barnes has been suspended by the OHL, although the 25-game ban does not reflect any previous discipline, the OHL said.
Also suspended from Barrie was Shawn Cation for 15 games. The Generals lost the services of Andrew Archer for 15 games and Shane Fryia for 10.
Eight other players-T.J Reynolds, Mike Rusenstrom, Stacy Britstone and Brian Passmore from Oshawa and Ed Hill, Mike Christian, Blaine Down and Sheldon Keefe from Barrie-were suspended for two games each as a result of penalties stemming from the brawl.
Oshawa's Ilya Demidov was also suspended for four games in an unrelated checking-from-behind incident.
The game, a 5-3 Barrie win, featured 26 minor penalties, 13 major penalties and 12 misconduct/match penalties for a grand total of more than 225 penalty minutes. Each team was fined $2,500.
“It is with deep regret that the league has had to address such a sickening situation,” said OHL commissioner Dave Branch. “The actions of a certain few have been deplorable and at no time may they be tolerated.”
NAMES WITHHELD: Newspaper reports in Toronto said several NHL players were involved and may have been in contact with escorts who may or may not be HIV-positive.
A prosecutor in Ontario Superior Court said a Toronto-area escort agency with hundreds of clients knowingly sent out women who were HIV-positive to provide sexual services. The Toronto Star reported Oct. 6 the names of some NHL players were on the list. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
Mark Lukacko, 33, has pleaded not guilty to 16 pimping-related charges.
Judge Harry Keenan said names on the list of clients will not be released because there's no way to verify the accuracy of the list.
ZAMBONI VOTE: To mark the 50th anniversary of the ice-resurfacing machine Zamboni, the Frank. J. Zamboni Co. is holding a contest to declare a driver-of-the-year award.
Enthusiasts can cast a ballot for the most deserving driver by logging on to the webite www.zamboni.com. The winner will get to drive the Zamboni at the NHL All-Star Game Feb. 6 in Toronto. The frontrunners are Jimmy MacNeil from Brantford, Ont., and Al Sobotka from Detroit.