ECHL Fines and Suspensions: Quercia, Punnett Disciplined Following Physical Saturday Matchups

Wheeling Nailers forward Matthew Quercia and Idaho Steelheads defenseman Connor Punnett have been suspended following separate incidents during ECHL games played on Saturday, April 12. The rulings, issued by the ECHL Department of Player Safety, will impact both teams heading into Sunday’s follow-up contests. Each suspension stems from physical altercations that shifted game momentum and led to disciplinary review.

Wheeling’s Quercia Suspended for 10th Fighting Major

Wheeling Nailers forward Matthew Quercia has been suspended for one game following his actions in the game against the Trois-Rivières Lions on Saturday. Quercia was assessed a fighting major at 3:19 of the third period, marking his 10th of the season—an automatic one-game suspension under ECHL Rule #23.7.

Before dropping the gloves, Quercia made a strong offensive impact, assisting on both the game-winning goal by Jordan Martel and the late empty-netter by Matt Koopman in Wheeling’s 3-1 win. He finished the game with two assists and five penalty minutes.

Quercia will serve his suspension today (Sunday, April 13) when the Nailers face the Trois-Rivières Lions for the second straight afternoon. His absence removes both a physical presence and a productive playmaker from Wheeling’s top-nine rotation.

Idaho’s Connor Punnett Fined and Suspended for Interference

Idaho Steelheads defenseman Connor Punnett has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount following a series of penalties in Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Mavericks. At 7:49 of the second period, Punnett was penalized for interference, assessed a fighting major, and received a game misconduct—leading to a review under ECHL Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline.

The incident left Idaho short-handed on the blue line for the remainder of the contest, contributing to a penalty-heavy 3-2 overtime loss. Idaho was whistled for 82 penalty minutes overall, including multiple game misconducts in the second and third periods. Kansas City capitalized with two power play goals and secured the win just nine seconds into overtime.

Punnett will miss the next game for which he is on an ECHL active roster. His absence adds pressure to a defensive corps that already endured heavy minutes and emotional swings during Saturday’s physical affair at Idaho Central Arena.

League Reminder on Fines and Hardship Fund

As outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), all fines collected are directed to the PHPA’s ECHL Player’s Hardship Fund, which supports players in need across the league.