The American Hockey League was quick to initiate punishment for last night’s late-third period incident at Ricoh Coliseum, suspending Tyler Bertuzzi of the Grand Rapids Griffins and Sam Carrick of the Toronto Marlies.

Bertuzzi’s suspension comes after receiving a roughing minor and a match penalty for his altercation with Marlies winger Kasperi Kapanen. As I detailed (with footage) in an article this morning. Bertuzzi threw multiple gloved punches at Kapanen before slew footing him and throwing him to the ground.

Carrick’s suspension comes as a result of his abuse of an official penalty that he received during the same stoppage in play. Carrick was one of two players who were trying to come to Kapanen’s defence only to be restrained by linesmen. Unlike Nikita Soshnikov, who complied with his linesman’s actions, Carrick tried to break free multiple times and had more than a few choice words for his official.

It’s not known at this moment whether Carrick’s abuse was considered physical, verbal, or both. Through nine games this season, Carrick has a goal, an assist, and 28 penalty minutes.

Neither suspension has a determined length though the present decision keeps the two from playing as the league makes its final ruling. The Griffins aren’t due to play until November 6th, but Toronto’s next game is tomorrow afternoon against the Albany Devils, which Carrick will now presumably miss.

UPDATE: The league has made their decisions. Carrick will receive a three-game suspension, including tomorrow’s game against Albany Devils. Bertuzzi will receive two games for his slewfoot. Carrick is next available to play on November 7th, against the Binghamton Senators.

Photo courtesy of Christian Bonin / TSGPhoto.com





