The American Hockey League has suspended Manitoba Moose forward Mark Liwiski for three games for physical abuse of officials.
The suspension came after an altercation at the end of the second period during Thursday’s game between the Moose and the Chicago Wolves that was sparked when Liwiski delivered a hit at the buzzer. Chicago’s Joakim Ryan took offense; the two payers exchanged shoved as things escalated with both teams – including the goaltenders – coming together deep in the Wolves end.
Linesman Craig Ford was attempting to remove Liwiski from the scrum when the Manitoba winger decided to fight back in an attempt to break free, shaking his hands and appearing to strike the liney’s arms multiple times.
Liwiski was issued a roughing minor and a game misconduct for physical abuse of officials under rule 40.4, which requires an automatic three-game suspension:
Category III – Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.
A total of 26 penalty minutes were handed out as a result of the scrum, with 24 of them against the Moose. Manitoba’s Tyson Empey picked up a minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. The only penalty to Chicago was called on Ryan, for his initial shots at Liwiski.
Despite the two teams combining for 46 penalty minutes – and a combined nine power plays – in the game, neither team was able to score with the man advantage.
Liwiski will be sidelined for Manitoba’s games against the Iowa Wild on Saturday and Sunday, and their game at Rockford on Wednesday, March 19.
The undrafted forward, in his second season with the Moose, has three goals, three assists, and 133 penalty minutes in 38 games this season.
The Manitoba Moose fell to the Chicago Wolves byb a score of 4-3. Officials for the game were referees Riley Brace (#49) and Adam Tobias (#16) with linespersons Craig Ford (#70) and Brandon Grillo (#75). Brace and Grillo are both splitting time bwteen the AHL and NHL this season.
