Idaho's Nickerson Suspended 16 Games, Fined

March 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced on Friday that it has suspended Idaho right wing Matt Nickerson for 16 games and fined him an undisclosed amount as a result of his actions in ECHL Game #793 against Alaska on Mar. 21.

"During a third-period melee, Mr. Nickerson engaged multiple opponents who clearly did not wish to participate in an altercation," said ECHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Rod Pasma. "At the conclusion of this incident, Mr. Nickerson delivered two blind-sided sucker punches to an unsuspecting opponent. The ECHL will not tolerate such inappropriate behavior from our players."

Nickerson will miss Idaho's remaining eight regular season games and the first eight games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. If Idaho plays fewer than eight games in the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Nickerson would serve the remaining games at the start of the 2007-08 regular season.

Nickerson is suspended and fined under Rule 29 Supplemental Discipline.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players' Association, player fines collected by the ECHL are given to the PHPA for its ECHL Player's Hardship Fund.

The incident occurred at 6:49 of the third period and Nickerson was assessed a major penalty for fighting, a game misconduct penalty and a Match Penalty for intent to injure.

Nickerson will miss Idaho's games against Alaska (Mar. 23), against Alaska (Mar. 24), against Long Beach (Mar. 28), against Long Beach (Mar. 30), against Long Beach (Mar. 31), at Bakersfield (Apr. 4), at Bakersfield (Apr. 6) and at Bakersfield (Apr. 7).

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