The ECHL Department of Player Safety announced these fines and suspensions on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, following the matchup between the Atlanta Gladiators and the Orlando Solar Bears on Monday, January 20th. The players impacted are Brenden Datema of the Atlanta Gladiators and Kelly Bent of the Orlando Solar Bears.
Brenden Datema
Defenseman Brenden Datema of the Atlanta Gladiators has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount. This disciplinary action comes under Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline, as a result of an unpenalized elbowing infraction that occurred at 11:25 of the third period. Datema will miss Atlanta’s upcoming game against the Savannah Ghost Pirates on Friday, January 24th.
So far in the 2024-25 season, Datema has played in 30 games, scoring one goal and providing three assists, totaling four points. He has a minus 11 plus/minus rating and has accumulated 42 penalty minutes. On average, he has 0.13 points per game and takes 1.40 shots per game.
Kelly Bent
Forward Kelly Bent of the Orlando Solar Bears received a two-game suspension and an undisclosed fine. Bent’s suspension is also under Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline, following his game misconduct for being the aggressor at 19:19 of the third period. Consequently, Bent will be absent from Orlando’s games against the Jacksonville Icemen on Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, January 26th.
In the 2024-25 season, Bent has participated in 43 games, netting one goal and assisting on six others, for a total of seven points. He has a minus four plus/minus rating and has racked up 150 penalty minutes. Bent averages 0.16 points per game and takes 3.48 shots per game.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, all fines collected are directed to the PHPA for its ECHL Player’s Hardship Fund, providing support to players in need.
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