Dale Hunter was fined $5,000 by the OHL Wednesday for accusing Kitchener head coach Troy Smith of sending captain Liam Maaskant out to injure Max Domi in Game 5 of the Knights-Rangers first round playoff series last Friday.

"As a league, we have the utmost respect for Dale and what he has done in his career as a player and coach, here and with Hockey Canada," OHL vice-president Ted Baker said, "but the comments attributed to Dale were of concern to the league. He knows our game has changed dramatically and with the professionalism of our coaches and the faith we have in them, that (tactic to injure) is not something that is considered and contemplated."

A league release described the London head coach's comments as "most unprofessional and inappropriate". Hunter wasn't slapped with a maximum fine (ex-Sudbury coach Paul Fixter was fined $7,500 earlier this season for comments directed at Sault Star reporter Peter Ruicci) but it wasn't a minimum amount, either.

"The fine speaks for itself with respect to how concerned the league was regarding the comments," Baker said. "It is significant and we understand Dale, who is a veteran coach, knows it is not the proper deportment of one of our coaches."

The league did not consider suspending Hunter, nor did they investigate his claim against Smith. They determined there should have been a penalty called against Maaskant for his first-period elbow on Domi.

"It's fortunate Max wasn't badly injured and was able to return to the game," Baker said.