ECHL: Peter Laviolette Suspended Five Games

The ECHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Wheeling Nailers forward Peter Laviolette has been suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount for his actions in Saturday Night’s game against the South Carolina Stingrays. Laviolette left the bench to join in on the altercation at the 8:12 mark of the second period; he was assessed a major for fighting along with a game misconduct for secondary altercation and a second game misconduct for leaving the player’s bench. He is eligible to return to the lineup on February 28th vs Adirondack Thunder. This is the second time in his career he’s been suspended for leaving the bench to join an altercation. He has a goal and two assists for three points, along with 71 penalty minutes in 16 games this season.

Laviolette, 27, is in his third season with his hometown, Wheeling Nailers, and has put up 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points, along with 269 PIM in 99 career games. He has also played in two Kelly Cup Playoff Games. Before going pro, he spent five seasons at Plymouth State University, where he put up 35 goals and 32 assists for 67 points in 105 games and would win three MASCAC Championships with the Panthers. In his second season with the Panthers, he would be tied for the team lead in penalty minutes (62). Laviolette has ties to the NHL as his father, Peter Laviolette, is the head coach of the New York Rangers, and ironically, his first coaching job came with the Nailers during the 1997-98 season.