ECHL suspends player indefinitely for cross-check against Walleye
Ben Wilson was ejected from Saturday’s game for actions against Toledo’s Simon Denis
4/17/2017The ECHL announced today that it has suspended Kalamazoo captain Ben Wilson indefinitely as a result of his actions in a playoff game against Toledo on Saturday night.
The league made the ruling after Wilson forcefully cross-checked Walleye defenseman Simon Denis seven times across his back in a stunning outburst in the first period of Game 3 of the Central Division semifinals.
VIDEO: Ben Wilson delivers cross-checks to Toledo’s Simon Denis
The veteran defenseman repeatedly used the shaft of his stick to strike Denis on his back as he lay on the ice after play had stopped at the Huntington Center.
Wilson was ejected from the game and was issued 17 penalty minutes, including a 10-minute game misconduct.
The league also fined Wilson an undisclosed amount stemming from the incident. There will be no further comment from the ECHL until a later date.
The Walleye went on to defeat the Wings 4-1 and took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. The teams square off again on Tuesday night in Kalamazoo.
Denis, who missed the final two periods on Saturday, will be out for at least Game 3 due to an undisclosed injury he sustained during the incident. Doctors were reviewing results of an examination of Denis today and there is no time line yet on his return.
Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.