The American Hockey League has suspended Hershey Bears forward Justin Nachbaur for three games for physical abuse of officials after he shoved linesperson Nic Boivin during an altercation.
Nachbaur received a minor penalty for roughing along with a game misconduct during the game along with the automatic three-game ban under Rule 40 – relevant sections in bold:
Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an
official, physically demeans, or 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 receive a game misconduct penalty. In addition, the following (40.2, 40.3, 40.4) disciplinary penalties shall apply.
40.4 Automatic 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.
Nachbaur has 2 goals and one assist along with 74 penalty minutes in 26 games this season. He will be eligible to return to the lineup when the Bears host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday.
The Laval Rocket went on to defeat the Hershey Bears 6-1. Officials for the game were referees Morgan MacPhee (#43) and Jack Young (#24) with linespersons Jeremy Faucher (#97) and Nicolas Boivin (#16); MacPhee and Faucher are both splitting time between the AHL and NHL this season.
