The NHL Officials’ Association issued a strong statement Saturday morning criticizing arbitrator James Oldham’s decision to reduce Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman’s suspension from 20 to 10 games for abuse of officials.
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In his ruling, Oldham said he did not endorse National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman’s conclusion that Wideman’s behaviour constituted intentional action, automatically triggering a penalty of no less than twenty games. Because the appeal lessened the suspension, Wideman will lose $282,258 instead of $564,516.
On Friday, Oldham said that he agreed with the decision to ban Wideman, but said: “I do not think that Wideman’s behavior was animated by an intent to injure [Don] Henderson”.
“Taking into account Wideman’s eleven years of discipline-free performance as a professional hockey player, there is no occasion to go beyond the ten game minimum specified in Rule 40.3”, Oldham wrote.
After the NHL announced Wideman’s 20-game suspension, the NHL Players’ Association said it planned to appeal on his behalf, noting “the facts, including the medical evidence presented at the hearing, clearly demonstrate that Dennis had no intention to make contact with the linesman”.
Even though Wideman served 19 games of the suspension, the reduction does not sit well with officials.
Henderson got a concussion of his own from the blindside hit, which Oldham wrote could not be called a cross-check. Henderson, who suffered a concussion on the play, hasn’t officiated a game since the incident and his career is reportedly in jeopardy.
“The NHLOA intends to take all steps necessary so that its members are protected in the future and ensure that this type of conduct by a player against an official never happens again”.
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Wideman played 18 minutes in the Flames’ 4-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night. Wideman banged his stick on the ice, then knocked down Henderson in front of the Nashville bench. “I just hope going forward maybe next time it can move along a little bit quicker”. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said he spoke to Wideman who told him the text was not sent to Gregory Campbell.
