The American Hockey League's Board of Governors unanimously voted to uphold the suspension of Norfolk Admirals right winger Steve Downie.
Downie was suspended for 20 games on March 5 for deliberately striking an official with his stick during a February 28 game at Hershey.
Norfolk, the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, had appealed the suspension and asked the league to consider additional evidence.
Downie, who was suspended indefinitely immediately following the game, bruised the shin of linesman Mike Hamilton on a center ice face-off following a Hershey goal near the end of the game. The Admirals contended that Downie struck the official accidentally during the course of play with the follow- through of his stick after winning the face-off against Hershey's Andrew Joudrey.
The Board convened via conference call on Tuesday to hear the Admirals' appeal, but ultimately upheld the suspension.
Downie will be eligible to return to the Norfolk lineup on April 11.
Here's the incident itself...
((HT: Rogers Sportsnet))
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