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[triswykes]

Nice story about former Admirals defenseman Duncan Keith and ex-Norfolk coach Trent Yawney on the Chicago Tribune site. Admirals PR flack Keith Phillips sent this one our way.

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So last night, after spending a good part of the day chasing our kids around at home, I opted for exhausted sleep midway through the Admirals internet radio broadcast. And then, Steve Downie apparently took a large chunk out of the rest of his already-checkered career by slashing a linesman. I can't even comprehend how bad this is going to turn out for the kid. And I had really begun to think he'd turned things around.

3 - NOR Downie, 19:46 - Game misconduct - Physical abuse of officials (cat. 1) (41.2), 10 min

CATEGORY I - Any Player who deliberately strikes an Official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an Official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an Official shall be automatically suspended for not less than 20 games. (For the purpose of the Rule, "intent to injure" shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)

More on this to come. What a mess. Here's a snippet from the Lebanon, Pa., paper's Internet game story: ``Norfolk's Steve Downie was assessed a game misconduct for abuse of an official after hitting a linesman with his stick with 14 seconds left and is facing a league-imposed 20-game suspension.''

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Message from the AHL's Jason Chaimovitch on Downie:

``He is suspended indefinitely pending league review, which I don't foresee happening before Tuesday at the earliest. We need to get the video from the Admirals.''

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Ok, here's what Admirals GM Mike Butters has to say about the situation:

``He was taking a faceoff and the center across from him began chirping at him and (Downie) was looking to swat that guy's stick. There was absolutely zero intent by Steve to make contact with the official and he happened to hit the puck and knock it over the glass.

``I was totally surprised to see (the scoresheet) because emotions were obviously hot with Hershey's comeback and apparently the linesman didn't take that into consideration. He got emotional about what happened and it shouldn't have even been written up. I'm always concerned when refs act like guys are out to get them, especially in this case where Steve had zero intent to harm him.

``I'm hoping that Jim Mill and his staff see that the tape clearly shows the Hershey guy jawing at Downie and shows Downie making contact with the guy's stick and the puck. If cooler heads prevail, he shouldn't even get a suspension, but I'd be shocked if it was anything more than three games.''

Here's the St. Petersburg Times' bit on the situation. It's pretty much exactly what I've listed above.

Hershey broadcaster John Walton saw things quite differently. Having not been there myself, I can't say one way or the other. But as John writes, it will be very interesting to see how the AHL rules on all this.

[Update: Just talked to John Walton via phone and one point he made that stands out is that the Bear coming to take the faceoff with Downey was a good 3-4 feet away and had just put his stick down when Downie swung. If that's true, then it would seem to rule out Butters' line about Downie trying to swat the stick of the opposing center.]

[Update II: Tim Leone of the Harrisburg Patriot-News just sent me a message saying Bears center Andrew Joudrey claims he didn't see what happened right in front of him. Riiiight. You're about to take a faceoff, the ref drops the puck and someone swings their stick in front of your face. But you're not looking in that direction? I guess Joudry doesn't want to ``rat out'' Downie, but I don't think that's really an issue here.]

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In what was obviously an interesting night at Giant Center, a fan was ejected for apparently telling referee Jeff Smith he should have been on the plane that recently crashed in the Buffalo area. Smith was slated to be on that aircraft with his family but they switched flights and therefore survived.

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More John Walton, as he raised the possibility that the Richmond Phantoms could be an AHL entry next season:

It's far from a sure thing, but an AHL executive (and no, it wasn't the one I work for) that Richmond, Virginia is being looked at as a possible site for the Phantoms to move to next season. Should something like that take shape in Richmond, both the Admirals and Bears could see benefit. No one would see more on the plus side than Norfolk, who would have another team in the region and a brand new rival to battle with. The Bears, the next closest team to Hampton Roads when Philly departs, could play both teams when going down south, and also might not have to see Norfolk quite so much as they do now. Again I stress it's not a sure thing, but the possibility is being discussed.

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The photo below, yet another Lisa Murphy shot, shows what I believe was defenseman Andy Rogers' last game. It could very well have been his last game as an Admiral, for Tampa Bay isn't inclined to play him again with a bad back and I highly doubt they'll qualify him this summer. A great guy, but he can't stay healthy. Oh, and the mustache he's sporting was one he grew to keep Chris Lawrence's crumb-duster company.

[triswykes]

Some grainy footage here of Zenon Konopka and Grant MacNeill fighting in Hershey on Saturday night. I'm amazed at how Konopka hangs in there with much bigger guys so often.

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Hershey broadcaster John Walton gives more thoughts on Steve Downie's situation on his blog today.

Interesting article from the past here that talks about how one of Downie's former junior coaches predicted trouble ahead for the player.

The news on Downie's latest transgression has reached the Motherland.

I wasn't there for the game in Hershey on Saturday and have no idea what actually happened, but it irritates me when I read this sort of blog posting on a major media site and it doesn't even seek to give both sides of the story.

Meanwhile, the online water cooler heats up with talk on the topic and another agitator, Sean Avery, has likely completed his AHL conditioning stint and is headed back to the NHL with the NY Rangers.

At the end of that Avery article, it's noted that former Admiral P.A. Parenteau, who leads Hartford with 26 goals, was scratched after getting hit in the back of the head with a shot during warmups. I'm amazed that doesn't happen more often to the guys who cruise around with no helmets in the pregame session.

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Are former Admirals James Wisniewski, Jack Skille and Cam Barker being dangled as trade bait by the Chicago Blackhawks?

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Notes and Admirals line combinations from yesterday by River Rats beat man Phil Janack:

Albany radio color analyst John Hennessy has the headset on and will be working alongside play-by-play man Owen Newkirk tonight. They are expected to be joined by injured Rats defenseman Casey Borer in his radio debut. Norfolk broadcaster Pete Michaud was kind enough to let the trio borrow his spare headset for the occasion.

Today will be the 10th game for Norfolk winger Wade Brookbank since being assigned to the team in the trade that brought he and Josef Melichar to Tampa Bay from the Carolina Hurricanes. Brookbank played 25 games for Albany in 2007-08, the last coming on Dec. 27, 2007. He hasn't been back in the building since.

Another familiar face is Admirals backup goalie Craig Kowalski, who was in Carolina's organization and attended Rats training camp in 2006-07, but was beat out for a job by rookie Justin Peters. He and Peters chatted as they stretched on opposite sides of the red line at center ice.

Norfolk's line combinations: Brent Henley-Pete Zingoni-Jay Rosehill; Justin Keller-Zenon Konopka (C)-Brandon Bochenski (A); Radek Smolenak-Paul Szczechura-Brandon Segal (A); Juraj Simek-Blair Jones-Grant Potulny.

Defense pairings: Ty Wishart-Daryl Boyle; Vladimir Mihalik-Kevin Quick; Wade Brookbank-Mike Lundin.

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I had totally forgotten about the Mike Keenan move below until Rochester beat man Kevin Oklobzija mentioned it in his blog:

Amerk fans can at least rest easy that their team will remain fun to watch for the remainder of the season. It’s safe to say the Panthers won’t duplicate the backdoor move pulled off by former general manager Mike Keenan in 2004-05.

At the time, the Panthers were the parent team of the San Antonio Rampage, a team that wasn’t competitive in a league when talent was at an all-time high because of the NHL lockout.

Keenan knew Bouwmeester and Stephen Weiss would be in Florida the next season, and he also knew how important playoff experience can be for career development. So he loaned both to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

The move was very smart for the development of Bouwmeester and Weiss, but it was an incredible slap in the face to San Antonio fans and management. The message: We don’t care one iota about you or your fans. I’m sure all of San Antonio roots for the Keenan-coached Calgary Flames today.

Not that Keenan cares. He was looking out for No. 1. Weiss and Bouwmeester each played 18 post-season games as the Wolves reached the Calder Cup finals before losing to Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Patrick Sharp, R.J. Umberger and the Philadelphia Phantoms.

So could history repeat itself this week (or before next Tuesday’s AHL roster freeze deadline)? Could the Panthers loan defenseman Keaton Ellerby, center Shawn Matthias and winger Michal Repik to some contending AHL team?

Amerks G.M. Jody Gage doubts it. “That ended up being a good move for Florida,” Gage said of the Bouwmeester/Weiss deal. “But I don’t think they’ll do a move that will hurt us. We’ve got some good momentum going.”

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The driver of the Albany River Rats' bus that crashed has been ticketed for his actions that night. I'm thinking that opens the door to Lawsuit City, but let's hope not.

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RED WINGS RECALL DOWNEY AND ERICSSON, RETURN HELM AND LEINO TO GRAND RAPIDS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Monday recalled right wing (and former Admiral) Aaron Downey and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson from the Grand Rapids Griffins and assigned forwards Darren Helm and Ville Leino to the American Hockey League club.

Downey makes his second trip to Detroit in just over a month, having gone scoreless in his season debut on Jan. 29 when he became the 100th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL. In 59 games with Grand Rapids, the 2008 Stanley Cup champion shows nine points (2-7—9) and a team-high 103 penalty minutes.

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Former Admirals center Mark Bell had to think he'd been rescued by the NR Rangers, but now he's been sent down to AHL Hartford to make way for Sean Avery. Ouch.

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I've yet to watch it, but I'm told this CBC video feature on hockey fighting features former Admirals training camp participant Jon ``Nasty'' Mirasty, now with AHL Syracuse.

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Today's photo is another shot by Lisa Murphy, who keeps cranking out good ones. It's former Admirals sniper Martin St. Pierre, who tore up his old team Friday night with visiting Providence.

[triswykes]

A Kansas City Scouts blog has surfaced. I've always been intrigued by the Scouts, mainly for their uniforms and their very short NHL stay.

I love the defunct NHL teams of the 1970s in general and while Wikipedia should never be considered a solid source, it's fun to read their pages on teams like the Scouts, the Colorado Rockies and the Cleveland Barons.

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Wouldn't you just LOVE to see the Blackhawks wear this logo on their jerseys one night?

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WBS beat man Jonathan Bombulie points us to this article on NHL scouts, the unsung heroes of the sport.

I'm struck by this graf below:

"But live viewing is still important because you still have that feel for the game," (Kings scout Nick) Bobrov said, adding that scouts might see things that cannot be seen on video, such as "what's happening on the bench, personal relationships that you might be able to pick up on, who's liked and who's not.. You can see the body language and interactions between teammates on the bench."

I once had a college soccer coach tell me as her team did 1 on 1 drills for loose balls that she wasn't watching to see who won, she was watching to see how the player who lost reacted and who, if the ball got kicked away, took the initiative to go get it. But none of the players realized that.

That sort of thing makes me wonder how much Steve Downie or Zenon Konopka hurt themselves in the eyes of scouts when they smash sticks and throw water bottles and scream at officials as they near the bench or just after they've hopped onto it.

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Bridgeport beat maven Mike Fornabaio sez former Admiral Junior Lessard is due back tonight vs. visiting Norfolk after missing 20 games with a broken hand. Good for the Ol' Redhead.

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The Washington Post takes a lovin' look at the Hershey Bears and how they are the Greatest Franchise in the History of Minor League Hockey.

(Actually, it's a very cool multi-media presentation. Well worth your time.)

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Notes from the St. Petersburg Times today in advance of tonight's tilt with visiting Pittsburgh:

Karri Ramo gets the start in net -- really. Ramo was supposed to start Saturday against the Flames, but Mike McKenna ended up playing in the 8-6 victory. Coach Rick Tocchet said he spoke with Ramo and goaltenders coach Cap Raeder prior to the game and decided to give Ramo a rest at the end of a long road trip. Ramo, Tocchet said, will "carry the ball" for the next little while. ... F Paul Szczechura was called up from AHL Norfolk, likely in anticipation of some player movement before the deadline. Szczechura, who said his sore knee is 100 percent healed, was with Norfolk when Steve Downie allegedly slashed a linesman late in Saturday's game with Hershey. "I don't think he meant to do anything," Szczechura said. "It was a faceoff and he hit the puck. Personally, I don't think he meant to do it." ... D Jamie Heward skated with full equipment for the first time since sustaining a Jan. 1 concussion on a hit into the boards and from behind by Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. Heward skated for about 30 minutes, did some laps and passed the puck with teammates on the ice early for the morning skate. Heward said he wants to play again this season because if he retired at the end (something he said he does not want to do) he doesn't want the last game of his career to have been one in which he was carted off the ice on a stretcher.

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Lightning Recall RW Brandon Segal and C Paul Szczechura from Admirals

TAMPA BAY, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have recalled right wing Brandon Segal and center Paul Szczechura from the Admirals, it was announced today by Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton. This is Segal’s first career NHL call-up.

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Something called Maine Hockey Journal says Portland Pirates fans are unhappy with the parent Buffalo Sabres and how they've stocked or not stocked the AHL team. Which, writes Rochester beat man Kevin Oklobzija, is no surprise at all.

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Admirals Sign Two Players to Tryout Contracts

NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Admirals General Manager Mike Butters announced today that the Admirals have signed forward Paul McIlveen and defenseman Wes Cunningham to Professional Tryout Contracts. Both will join the Admirals from the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals.

McIlveen, 22, is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward from Waterloo, Ontario. He has split this season in the ECHL between Elmira and the South Carolina Stingrays, posting 15 goals and 25 assists with 27 penalty minutes in 50 games.

McIlveen will be making his American Hockey League debut. His two-year professional career has been spent in the ECHL between Elmira and South Carolina. In 107 games, he has registered 26 goals and 48 assists with 98 penalty minutes. He also skated in 14 games for the Stingrays in last season’s Kelly Cup Playoffs, posting three goals and ten penalty minutes as South Carolina advanced to the conference finals.

McIlveen split his junior career between the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL. In 126 career junior games, he scored 52 goals and added 76 assists with 116 penalty minutes.

Cunningham, 21, is a 5-foot-11, 174-pound defenseman. The Dresden, Ontario, native has appeared in 55 games with the Jackals in his rookie professional campaign, scoring nine goals and 21 assists to go along with 44 penalty minutes. He ranks 13th among ECHL defensemen in scoring and is second among ECHL rookie defensemen. Cunningham will be making his American Hockey League debut.

Cunningham played five seasons of junior hockey in the OHL. In 293 career games between Owen Sound, Belleville and Plymouth, he registered 15 goals and 108 assists with 407 penalty minutes.

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Today's photo, by John Wright, shows Admirals radio color commentator Pat Shetler officiating the recent alumni game. And no, he made no mistake about doing it.

[triswykes]

Hmmm. It's NHL trading deadline day. It's not out of the question to think the Tampa Bay Lightning have tired of Steve Downie's act. Could he be dealt away today? I'm just speculating...

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A feature on Admirals assistant coach Alan May is up on the Lightning site.

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We here at Admirals Snap Shots are thrilled to debut a new feature we're calling ``A Month's Worth of Silly Ajay Baines Photos''. It's exactly what it sounds like, with shots of the former Norfolk Admirals captain that should cause you to laugh, shake your head, raise your eyebrows, etc. Below is the first installment.

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And now for something completely different... Russian rap popular with hockey players!

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The Quad City Flames are holding off for the moment on officially pulling the plug on their AHL operation.

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Bridgeport's Mike Fornabaio gives us last night's Norfolk combinations below. Note Mike Lundin wearing an `A' with Segal called up.


F: Keller-Konopka (C)-Bochenski (A)
Smolenak-Zingoni-Jones
Rosehill-Lawrence-Simek
Henley

D: Wishart-Boyle
Mihalik-Quick
Lundin (A)
G: Helenius

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Paul Lukas, the man behind the awesome www.uniwatchblog.com site, recently won this retro NHL bed sheet. Very cool, and it even came with a free feline!

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Brandon Segal made his NHL debut for Tampa Bay last night wearing No. 36 and skating 14:45. He even got a shift on the power play. Congrats to one of the nicest fellas ever to grace an Admirals uniform.

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Former Admirals goaltender Marc Denis has been recalled from Hamilton by the parent Montreal Canadiens. Also, ex-Norfolk defenseman Danny Richmond has been shipped from the Pittsburgh organization over to St. Louis. WBS beat man Jonathan Bombulie describes Richmond as having been ``inconsistent'' this season.

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On a personal note, I cobbled together my first YouTube video and posted it last night. It's on a local prep baseball team, but I'm hoping to fire some up on the Admirals in the last weeks of the season.

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In what I'd say is quite a surprise, I've learned from former Admirals enforcer Mike Brown that he's managing a friend's GM auto dealership in the Vancouver area and playing rec hockey several times a week and often with the Canucks' alumni association team. Get this - he wears a shirt and tie! Those of you who got to know Brownie even a little are probably as surprised about this as I am. He swears, however, that he still doesn't shave regularly.

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I believe the Admirals will sign two more players for tonight, perhaps from ECHL Reading (Pa.). The revolving door is in full swing.

Admirals Release McIlveen and Cunningham

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Admirals General Manager Mike Butters announced today that the Admirals have released forward Paul McIlveen and defenseman Wes Cunningham from their Professional Tryout Contracts.

McIlveen and Cunningham both made their AHL debuts last night in Norfolk’s 3-1 victory at Bridgeport. McIlveen had two shots and two penalty minutes while Cunningham had three shots.

Both players will return to ECHL Elmira.

Norfolk concludes a four-game road trip tonight in Philadelphia. The puck drops against the Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. Please note that this game, which was originally scheduled for April 12, will be played at the Wachovia Center.

The next home action for the Admirals will come on Friday and Saturday nights when Norfolk hosts the Lowell Devils, AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. The puck drops for both games at 7:15 p.m.

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Admirals Sign Three Players to Tryout Contracts

NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Admirals General Manager Mike Butters announced today that the Admirals have signed forwards Brock Hooton and Mac Faulkner and defenseman Steve Ward to Professional Tryout Contracts (PTOs). All three players will join the Admirals from the ECHL’s Reading Royals and will be in uniform tonight when the Admirals take on the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Hooton, 25, is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound right wing out of Nanimo, British Columbia. The third-year pro has played the majority of this season with the Royals, leading the team with 47 points (18 goals and 29 assists) in 49 games. He has also appeared in his first three career AHL games between the Providence Bruins and Albany River Rats, scoring one goal.

Hooton has appeared in 179 career ECHL contests between Reading and the Phoenix Roadrunners, scoring 61 goals and 87 assists. He has also played in 17 career Kelly Cup Playoff contests, recording seven goals and four assists.

Faulkner, 25, is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound center out of King City, Ontario. The fourth-year pro has spent the entire season in Reading, scoring 17 goals and 20 assists in 58 games. In 239 career ECHL games, Faulkner has scored 62 goals and 97 assists. He also has appeared in 12 career Kelly Cup Playoff games, scoring five goals and seven assists.

Faulkner has skated in eight career AHL contests between the Binghamton Senators and Toronto Marlies and has four penalty minutes.

Ward, 23, is a 6-foot-0, 190-pound defenseman out of Scarborough, Ontario. The sophomore pro has appeared in 38 games with Reading this season, scoring six goals and 18 assists. He has also played in ten AHL contests between the Albany River Rats and San Antonio Rampage, recording one assist and four penalty minutes.

Ward appeared in 28 regular season games with the River Rats last season, scoring one goal and adding seven assists. He also skated in every game of Albany’s first round Calder Cup Playoff Series against the Philadelphia Phantoms.

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From the St. Petersburg Times:

Not a bad place to try for a third Stanley Cup, eh? Lightning right wing Mark Recchi, 41, was traded to the Bruins along with a 2010 second-round draft pick. In returns, Tampa Bay got two minor leaguers: forward Martins Karsums and defenseman Matt Lashoff.

Frankly, I don't like this swap. Tampa Bay should have kept that 2nd round pick.

Also from the SPT:

In the strangest move of the day, the Lightning traded three injured players, including goalie Olaf Kolzig, who is out for the season with a biceps injury, for a player who hasn't played in the NHL in three seasons.

The Lightning sent Kolzig and defensemen Jamie Heward and Andy Rogers to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Richard Petiot.

In late January, Kolzig had surgery to repair a ruptured distal biceps tendon in his left forearm. Heward has been out since Jan. 1, when he was concussed by a hit to the head from Alex Ovechkin. Rogers also has been sidelined with an injury.

Petiot, 6-feet-2, 190 pounds, had no points and two penalty minutes in two games with the Los Angeles Kings in 2005-06.

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From www.tsn.ca. The bolded names are ex-Admirals.

The Anaheim Ducks made a pair of trades just prior to the NHL's Trade Deadline sending forward Samuel Pahlsson to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenceman James Wisniewski and a draft pick.

The Ducks then shipped forward Travis Moen and defenceman Kent Huskins to the San Jose Sharks for prospect Nick Bonino and goalie Timo Pielmeier and a conditional draft pick.

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Satan himself may be in the house with the WBS Penguins when they arrive at Scope later this month. Pinup gal below the creation of the fabulous Rob Ullman of Richmond.

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Former Admirals goaltender Jonathan Boutin, now with ECHL South Carolina, dropped the blocker and glove to fight recently. Speaking of Boots, here's a shot of him below in the Stingrays' Pink Breast Cancer Awareness jerseys. The photo is courtesy of Lori Paulus.

[triswykes]

The St. Petersburg Times says defenseman Richard Petiot, acquired in a trade from Toronto yesterday, has been assigned to Norfolk. Here's a link to a photo of Petiot.

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Lightning Return Brandon Segal to Admirals

NORFOLK, VA – The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have reassigned right wing Brandon Segal to the Admirals, Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced today.

Segal, 6-foot-2, 214-pounds, appeared in his first career NHL game Tuesday night against Pittsburgh, skating 14:45 and recording one hit, one takeaway and one blocked shot.

Segal has appeared in 52 games with the Admirals this season. His 21 goals and 41 points both rank second on the club. Those marks are also AHL career highs for the sixth-year professional. This season, Segal also has a +1 rating, 70 penalty minutes, four power play goals, one shorthanded goal and two game-winning goals with the Admirals this season.

[Edit: Segal is headed back to Tampa Bay, Admirals assistant coach Alan May said tonight on the team's radio show.]

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Star-Studded Cast Set for Tonight’s Admirals Hour Radio Show

NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Admirals Assistant Coach Alan May and former Admirals goaltenders Mike McKenna and Michael Leighton will join “The Voice of the Admirals” Pete Michaud on the Admirals Hour Radio Show tonight from 6:00 to 7:00 on ESPN Radio 1310.

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Here's the verdict, as just pointed out by fan WranglersGM:

AHL ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced that Norfolk Admirals right wing Steve Downie has been suspended for twenty (20) regular-season games as a result of his actions in a game at Hershey on Feb. 28.

At the 19:48 mark of the third period, Downie was assessed a game misconduct under the provisions of AHL Rule 41.2 for deliberately striking an official with his stick.

Downie has already served three games of the suspension. He is scheduled to be eligible to return to the Norfolk lineup on Apr. 11.

My take: Well, this isn't good. I'll be back with reaction, but it would appear on the surface that the AHL clearly believes Downie acted viciously and with intent. Whether he did or not, he's been convicted in court, so to speak, and his career is officially in trouble.

Off the top of my head, I hope step one by Tampa Bay and Downie's agent is to get him into counseling asap. That at least shows that he's doing something to try and resolve his perceived anger issues, and hey, you never know if the guy might actually be helped.

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From Hershey broadcaster John Walton's blog:

I hope that the Tampa Bay Lightning will help him use the time wisely. Help this kid get the counseling he needs, because the demons within him are obvious to see. Our game will be better for helping one of our own.

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Whether or not Downie meant to slash the linesman, today's suspension means posts in this tone will be viewed as correct.

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Here's a slightly edited transcript of my chat just now with AHL VP Jim Mill, who issued the 20-game suspension to Steve Downie today. I want to clarify one thing down below, which is that Mill said Downie's past didn't come into his thinking on this topic because the video evidence was, to him, so clear cut and made the case for suspension by itself.

Q: What did you see or hear that convinced you Downie did this on purpose?
A: First, it's what the call was on the ice by all three officials. Second, I watched the video. He didn't touch the puck. The Hershey guy won the puck cleanly (and sent it flying out of play) because Steve was going to do what he did. This is clear cut and calls for a suspension of 20 games. It is what it is; you can't strike an official.

Q: Did Downie's prior transgressions factor into the application or length of the ban?
A: This is a clear cut abuse of officials and I had no choice based on what I saw. I know Steve, I met with him prior to him playing in this league. It was in Philadelphia opening night (in 2006). He had been suspended by the NHL and was deemed not eligible to play for the first month of our season. I told him we had seen what happened and... warned him that we knew of his record and left it at that.

Q: Could you explain the three subcategories within the Abuse of Officials category?
A: Category three would be the least severe and is w hen a player threatens or demeans an official. Mark Fraser from Lowell just got suspended for that when he was trying to get at another player in a fight. Category two would be applying force to or spitting on an official without attempt to injure. Category one is deliberately striking with intent to injure.

Mill went on to say he's been with the AHL for 10 seasons and that the league has not issued a category one ban in that time. The AHL office said the last one they can track down is from 1988-89 when a Cape Breton Oiler named Mike Ware received a 26-game total, the extra six games because he left his bench.

Mill said he did not speak to Downie about the incident in Hershey but has spoken with Admirals coach Darren Rumble, GM Mike Butters, Tampa Bay co-assistant GM Claude Loiselle and Tampa Bay GM Brian Lawton.

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I'm told the Downie suspension is being talked about on the NHL Network right now, with one host asking if Downie is mentally ill. [Edit: Just turned on myself and the host said they had just shown the tape of Downie slashing the linesman and would deal with the topic again later between 1-2 p.m.] [Double edit: Jim Dowd is not very good at interviewing. Talks too fast, stammers and needs a grammar refresher.]

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To the surprise of no one, Steve Downie is not available for comment until further notice.

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Ok, I've TiVo'd the NHL Live discussion just now on Downie's slash. I will type in a transcript a bit later on, but that's going to take some time. Darren Rumble is taking some heat for having Downie out there to take a faceoff in that situation when he's had a history of loose-cannon behavior.

Here's my opinion after slow-mo watching the play about half a dozen times, albeit on a TV show which used a computer monitor image: I think Downie meant to whack the linesman, but I don't think he meant for the blow to have the impact it did. He figured the dropping of the puck gave him plausible denial and didn't realize how hard he actually hit the guy and what it would lead to. The NHLL hosts are saying they have sources telling them Downie blamed the linesman for the loss that night before the incident happened.

Why do I think this? Because I've been a bit of a meathead myself over the years and I've done one or two things with that line of thinking. And then you look back and you wonder why in the world you did what you did.

The argument of Downie just trying to win a faceoff doesn't wash for me because he reaches far over to his left on the follow-through. Much farther than you'd do normally. And Downie's not even looking at the Hershey faceoff man, so I don't buy the reasoning that Downie was trying to do anything to him.

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Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press points out this video, which is a straight-out sucker punch by Downie from his junior days. If you put ``Steve Downie'' into YouTube, you get a library of clips.

Bottom line here: Steve needs help with his emotions. There's no shame in getting treatment for a sprained ankle and there shouldn't be shame in getting treatment if your mental state isn't healthy, either.

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Based on my conversation with Jim Mill today and his tone, I don't see this appeal going anywhere. Mill was clearly upset by what's transpired and I would imagine AHL president Dave Andrews shares his point of view.

Media Advisory

NORFOLK, VA – The Norfolk Admirals are appealing the 20-game suspension handed down to right wing Steve Downie for his actions in a game against the Hershey Bears on February 28.

Downie was suspended indefinitely immediately following the game and he has served three games under that indefinite suspension to this point. He was assessed a game misconduct under the provisions of AHL Rule 41.2 (Category 1) for deliberately striking an official with his stick.

The club understands Downie remains on indefinite suspension, pending the appeal, and its players, coaches and staff will have no further comment on this matter until its resolution.

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STATEMENT REGARDING THE SUSPENSION OF RIGHT WING STEVE DOWNIE

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning support the Norfolk Admirals in appealing the 20-game suspension handed down to right wing Steve Downie for his actions in a game against the Hershey Bears on February 28. The Lightning have requested that the American Hockey League consider additional evidence in the matter and request that the player receive a modicum of due process before a final decision is rendered.

Downie was suspended indefinitely immediately following the game and he has served three games under that indefinite suspension to this point. He was assessed a game misconduct under the provisions of AHL Rule 41.2 (Category 1) for deliberately striking an official with his stick. Downie bruised the shin of linesman Mike Hamilton on a center ice face-off at the 19:48 mark of the third period following a Hershey goal near the end of the game. To clarify public reports, the player struck the official (during the course of play) with the follow through of his stick after winning a face-off against Hershey’s Andrew Joudrey.

The club understands Downie remains on indefinite suspension, pending the appeal, and it will have no further comment on this matter until its resolution.

My take: Jim Mill said today that Joudrey won the faceoff. The Lightning claim Downie won it. Does anyone really know? I'm also interested to find out what this possible ``additional evidence'' could possibly be.

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Radio show update: I just listened to the first 10 minutes of ``The Admirals Hour'' and gleaned a few news items.

First, Brandon Segal has been or soon will be recalled by Tampa Bay and will play for them tomorrow, Norfolk assistant coach Alan May said. He also said defenseman Richard Petiot, acquired from Toronto, has immigration issues and we may not see him in action here for as long as two weeks. Finally, May said Matt Lashoff, a defenseman acquired from by Tampa Bay from Boston, suffered a gash on his leg last weekend and will be out for a while. He's only likely to eventually come to Norfolk to play a few games for conditioning, May said.

May said he's under a gag order regarding the Downie incident but said he disagrees with the suspension, as does everyone in the Lightning organization.

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Latest from the St. Petersburg Times:

Downie's agent, Rick Curran, said the appeal concerns the league not interviewing Downie during the investigation.

"There was no opportunity to defend himself," Curran said.

The Lightning's statement of support for Norfolk requested "the American Hockey League consider additional evidence in the matter and requests that the player receive a modicum of due process before a final decision is rendered."

The statement also said "Downie struck the official (during the course of play) with the follow-through of his stick after winning a faceoff against Hershey's Andrew Jourdrey."

But Jim Mill, the league's vice president for hockey operations, said the video of the incident was "clear cut," and that he had no doubt Downie acted deliberately.

"Absolutely not," Mill said. "I don't come to these decisions lightly. There's absolutely no wavering in my decision."

Also, I'm told Downie, Zenon Konopka and Jay Rosehill were the three forwards on the ice at the time of the incident. I've never seen a line made of those three, so I had to assume Darren Rumble and/or Alan May sent out the toughest forward trio they could come up with in case more fighting broke out. Which makes sense to a point, but putting Downie in that situation obviously wasn't a good idea in hindsight.

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Steve Downie, as photographed by John Wright.

[triswykes]

I wonder if the AHL's lords of discipline talked to this guy about the Downie situation?

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The Chicago Tribune has a story and video on the Blackhawks trading former Admirals defender James Wisiniewski. Meanwhile, a Blackhawks beat writer is calling Wiz ``expendable''.

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Ex-Norfolk goaltender Michael Leighton recently paid for the Albany River Rats' lunch.

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WBS beat man Jonathan Bombulie reports that he and his readers have discovered that Luca Caputi, Joe Jensen and Joel Perreault are the three players who have scored goals in the ECHL, AHL and NHL in the same season thus far.

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Steve Downie's slash has reached MSN/Fox News and Sports Illustrated's online page. Can TMZ be far behind?

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Game day notes from the St. Petersburg Times:

Forward Brandon Segal spent Wednesday night in Norfolk after being sent down after Tuesday's game with the Penguins, but was called right back up again and is scheduled to play tonight against the Blues. It's been a long road for Segal, 25, who has spent six years in the minors before getting his crack at the NHL. "This is huge," Segal said. "I'm going to take full advantage of it." ... Segal, who wore No. 26 at Norfolk, whore No. 36 Tuesday and now has No. 53. ... Karri Ramo is scheduled to be in net. ... Goalie Mike McKenna, a St. Louis native and a huge Blues fan growing up, said he was disappointed he is not playing tonight. Then again, he said, "As a goalie, you're always disappointed you're not playing. If you're not, something is probably wrong with you." Even so, he added, It's still cool to look over and see the blue note over there." ... Left wing Ryan Malone (flu) will not play. F Paul Szczechura (wrist) is a game-time decision, Tocchet said.

My take: McKenna has had his shot and the Lightning have made up their mind on him one way or the other. They now want to play Ramo as much as possible and figure out whether to qualify him or not.

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Here, finally, is YouTube video of Downie's stick hitting the linesman the other night.

I'm told by the AHL office that the Board of Governors will convene a conference call Tuesday afternoon to hear Downie's appeal. Now, Steve is not the best spoken individual under the best of circumstances, and I wince to think of him having to speak on this call. I'm guessing that's not going to happen, at least I hope some sort arrangement is made to avoid that situation.

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In case you're wondering how ex-NHL and AHL players over in Europe are doing this season, this page has a good list of them and their stats. Thanks to Admirals PR man Keith Phillips for the find.

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Not such a good week for the AHL. Manchester's coach is accusing a Springfield player of shooting a puck at him on the bench.

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Let's lighten things up around here with today's silly Ajay Baines photo. As mentioned before, we're doing a month straight of such images, although yesterday was so crazy, I forgot. I'll make it up with a bonus image of No. 32 somewhere down the road.

[triswykes]

In one of the stranger sports moves I've seen in a while, the Admirals just trotted Steve Downie out on the Scope concourse to sign autographs for fans. I asked Downie if he had communicated with the linesman he struck to offer an apology, but he was prevented from answering by a team employee.

The idea that Downie is off limits to the press but can talk with fans is bizarre. He's going to have to face questioning on the slashing issue eventually, but I guess Tampa Bay is going to try and muzzle him for the time being.

It was a bit of a circus down there. Fans with beers were standing around pointing at Downie and debating his suspension. I saw one guy pantomime the slashing motion on his buddy as if the buddy were the linesman. All this 15 feet from Downie.