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Thursday, October 15, 1998
NHL suspends pair for blows to the head
NEW YORK (CP) -- The NHL, making good on its promise to crack down on head-hunting, has suspended a pair of players over separate incidents in the Buffalo-Colorado game Monday.Sabres defenceman Richard Smehlik was suspended Thursday for one game and fined $1,000 for a high-sticking incident against Avs forward Valeri Kamensky.
Smehlik was assessed a high-sticking minor on the play.
"The message to all players is a consistent one -- use of the stick to an opponent's head, even when no injury results -- will result in a suspension," said NHL senior vice-president Colin Campbell.
Smehlik will miss Buffalo's game against Florida tonight.
On Wednesday night, the league suspended Colorado right-winger Keith Jones two games and fined him $1,000 for a check to the head of Buffalo forward Curtis Brown in the same game.
Brown was not hurt in the incident, which resulted in a minor penalty for roughing.
Jones missed the Avs' game Wednesday night against Boston and was to sit out Thursday night's game against Phoenix.
The fines are the maximum allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement.