Suspensions have been handed down by both the UHL and the ECHL following last weekend's games.

Most notably, the Elmira Jackals were heavily penalized by the United Hockey League following a two-game series against the Fort Wayne Komets.

Jackals rookie Milan Maslonka took the biggest penalty, a 10-game stint plus a fine after taking Match Penalty for Cross Checking. He will not eligable to play again until the January 5th game against the Flint Generals.

Right wing Curtis Tidball received a six game penalty for his actions during an altercation and teammate Chanse Fitzpatrick was suspended for two games for his actions in the same altercation. Both were also fined undisclosed amounts.

Komet Bruce Richardson was fined, but not suspended for his participation in the same altercation.

Jackals General Manager Robbie S. Nichols, never one to meekly sit back and watch, was fined 3 games for being in a restricted area off the ice. Nichols was behind the bench with his coaches for both games of the series. Jackals Head Coach Kris Waltze and and Komets Head Coach Pat Bingham were both fined for failing to maintain control of their teams.

(Funny, and I was just thinking the other night about how we never seem to have interesting melees in hockey anymore.)

Both organizations were additionally fined under Rule 29, Supplementary Discipline.

"The United Hockey League has handed down some very stiff suspensions to the Elmira Jackals organization," Nichols was quoted as saying a press release. "We support the decisions made by the UHL. The Elmira Jackals will continue to be a physical team that stands up for themselves, but like the UHL we will not tolerate any hooliganism."

(It should be noted that Nichols has a track record for being involved in "hooliganisms", dating back to his first year as head coach for Flint in then Colonial Hockey League.)

"Things that happened at the end of the second period Friday, we don't condone," Nichols was quoted as saying in the Elmira Star Gazette. "At the end of Saturday, what Maslonka did, we don't condone."

The ECHL fined the Pensacola Pilots an undisclosed amount under Rule 71 - Video/DVD procedures. Pensacola failed to turn in a tape of the altercation that happened following Saturday night's game between the Ice Pilots and the Florida Everblades. Additionally, Pensacola captain Colin Hemingway was suspended for one game for instigation, receiving a major penalty and a game misconduct under Rule 47, Fighting. Hemingway sat out Pensacola's game against the Charlotte Checkers last night, a game the Ice Pilots lost 5-2.

The Naple Daily News also reported that Everblades netminder Craig Kowalski was suspended for his actions in the fight. He was penalized for leaving the crease and slashing at the end of the game. He sat out Sunday's game against the Gwinnett Gladiators. (NDN erroneously reported the fight as happening on Friday night.)

Wheeling Nailers forward Joe Guenther was fined an undisclosed amount for a major spearing penalty for his actions at the conclusion of Friday night's game against the Toledo Storm.

In an unrelated move, the Jackals signed Doug Teskey as an Emergency Backup Goaltender after David Lemanowicz as placed on the 7-Day injured reserve with pneumonia. Lemanowicz has been told to avoid physical activity for the next ten days. Teskey works for the Jackals front office in the sales department, and has not played a professional game since the 2004-05 season.

The Jackals host the Port Huron Flags at 7:00 pm on Wednesday at First Arena and then will head out on the road for three games in Michigan over the weekend. Friday Elmira is in Port Huron, Saturday the Jackals head to Flint, then Sunday they will play a long anticipated rematch with the Kalamazoo Wings.

Defenseman Wes Blevins and forward Dan Veenema were activated from the IR, and are both available for tonight's game.

Komets handed fines for fracas in Elmira

Meanwhile the Florida Everblades announced the 8th annual Teddy Bear Toss was the most successful in team history with 5,528 stuff toys collected, which will go to various charities in the Southwest Florida area. United Way, Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army, Barbara’s Friends, and the Children's Hospital at Healthpark were just some of the organizations that benefited from the event.

The Blades begin a three game road trip on Friday against the Augusta Lynx. The teams will meet at the James Brown Arena at 7:35. Saturday the Blades take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 and will play a Sunday game against the Columbia Inferno at 5:05 pm. All times are eastern standard. This also the weekend for the annual Everblades fans road trip, which will take in the games at Augusta and South Carolina as part of the package deal.

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