The ECHL Department of Player Safety announced today that Norfolk Admirals forward Keegan Iverson and Idaho Steelheads forward Jordan Kawaguchi have each been fined an undisclosed amount and suspended as a result of their actions in Friday Night’s games. At 16:23 of the first period, Adirondack Thunder forward Mac Welsher went in for a hit just as Iverson dumped the puck into the Thunder zone. Iverson would have two hands on his stick and extend up around the head area to catch Welsher with a cross-check. Iverson was assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for cross-checking as a result of the play. Iverson will miss tonight’s pivotal game five against the Thunder.
Iverson has been suspended on two other occasions this season. The first came back on March 18 as a result of an elbow in a game against the Utah Grizzlies on March 17, where he was given a two-game suspension. The second came on March 24 due to an illegal check to the head on March 23 in a game against Adirondack. This is the second suspension of this series, as Zach Walker was suspended for his hit on Mark Liwiski in Game 1.
Kawaguchi was suspended two games for an unpenalized cross-check at the 14:15 mark on Friday’s game vs Kansas City Mavericks as he came across the ice and landed a two-handed cross-check on Justin Nachbar, Kawaguchi would receive a minor for roughing shortly after the hit. In 29 games during the regular season, he put up eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points and has added four goals and four assists in eight Kelly Cup Playoff games. He will miss Game 5 tonight vs Kansas City, and if the Steelheads are eliminated, he will miss the first game next season that he is on an active ECHL roster.
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