Two players with the Sudbury Wolves have been handed lengthy suspensions after an Ontario Hockey League investigation found they made “inappropriate game-related comments” regarding Barrie Colts defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson following an incident that occurred in a mid-January game.
Sudbury centre Nathan Villeneuve has been assessed a 15-game suspension, while winger Evan Konyen has been assessed a 10-game suspension. Both suspensions are effective immediately.
The disciplinary measures stem from an incident that occurred during a Barrie and Sudbury game back on Jan. 18 at Sadlon Arena.
With just 4:23 remaining in the contest, Aitcheson delivered a hit on Villeneuve and no penalty was handed out on the play. Sudbury blueliner Nolan Collins then instigated a fight with Aitcheson.
The two Central Division rivals would meet three days later in Sudbury, but the Colts decided not to dress Aitcheson after the team said it learned of a bounty being placed on the player by the Wolves.
“The League became aware of concerning allegations surrounding inappropriate game-related comments shared on a Sudbury Wolves group chat following a game between the Wolves and the Barrie Colts on January 18,” said the OHL in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon. “The League’s investigation revealed that Wolves players Nathan Villeneuve and Evan Konyen violated the OHL Social Media Policy in a manner detrimental to the welfare of the League, one that would greatly compromise player safety and the overall integrity of the game.”
Upon learning of the comments made by the Wolves’ players, the Colts decided not to dress Aitcheson in games against the Wolves in Sudbury on Jan. 21 and Feb. 28th.
“The (OHL) does a good job,” Colts general manager and head coach Marty Williamson said upon learning of the suspensions. “We supported the League and whatever decision they came with. It’s time for us to move on.
“Again, we support everything the league does.”
Williamson believes there’s no place in the OHL for comments like those made by the Sudbury players.
“I think it’s a message,” said Williamson of the league’s decision to suspend the players. “It’s a great league to play in. With social media and all that now, you can’t do those kind of things. I think it’s a strong message from commissioner Dave Branch and the OHL.
“I think every player will learn from it.”
The two teams will face each other two more times before the end of the regular season, in Barrie on Saturday, March 16th and in Sudbury on March 22nd.
Now that the league has dealt with the matter, Williamson is looking forward to moving on and getting back to just playing hockey.
“I think so. I know we have,” he said. “I haven’t talked to (Wolves vice president and general manager Rob Papineau) in the last little bit, but I would imagine they know it was a misstep and their players will be smarter for it down the road.”
The OHL says it goes to great lengths to educate its players on its various policies and Code of Conduct, with member teams required to facilitate interactive educational workshops. This education includes specifically the League’s Social Media Policy.
“The League takes breaches of its Social Media Policy very seriously and believes that these suspensions will reinforce to players and team staff that all activity, be it in person, on the ice or online, must be in keeping with OHL policies,” the league statement added.
Sudbury has nine games remaining in the regular season, meaning Villeneuve will also miss the first six playoff games, while Konyen will miss the first playoff game.
Villeneuve, who has 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points in 56 games this season, is considered a top prospect for this year’s NHL Draft. Konyen has 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 52 games with the Wolves this season.
Banner image via Terry Wilson / OHL Images
