The NHL Players Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman, who was suspended 20 games for cross-checking linesman Don Henderson last week.
Related: Flames' Wideman suspended 20 games for hitting linesman
"We strongly disagree with the league’s decision to suspend Dennis Wideman," the union wrote in a statement.
"Dennis has played in 11 NHL seasons and almost 800 games without incident. The facts, including the medical evidence presented at the hearing, clearly demonstrate that Dennis had no intention to make contact with the linesman. An appeal has been filed on the player's behalf."
The NHL suspended Wideman on Wednesday following an in-person hearing Tuesday. Henderson was hospitalized, and Wideman had no previous suspension history.
Moments before leveling Henderson, the Flames blue-liner was hit high by Nashville Predators forward Miikka Salomaki.
TSN's Rick Westhead reports Wideman was diagnosed with a concussion by the Flames' team doctor after the game, and the league's concussion protocol was not followed.
The NHL's heralded concussion protocol in the Dennis Wideman case wasn't followed. The concussion spotter called down to Calgary bench. 1/2
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) February 3, 2016
Source: According to NHL protocol, Wideman should then have been taken to quiet, distraction-free place & examined by doctor. He wasn’t. 2/2
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) February 3, 2016
The league confirmed Wednesday that Wideman suffered a concussion after the incident, but said that didn't excuse his hit on Henderson. The Flames could reportedly be fined if the NHL determines the club didn't follow protocol.
Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke wrote that Wideman's actions were "unintentional" and "accidental" in a statement Wednesday:
We were informed earlier today that our player, Dennis Wideman, was suspended for contact with an official in last Wednesday’s game against Nashville. We disagree with the severity of today’s suspension ruling and maintain that Dennis’ collision with the linesman was unintentional and accidental.
We agree that our officials' safety and well-being is of extreme importance in order to allow them to perform their duties. They perform an invaluable but underappreciated role in our game. We support sanctions against players who make deliberate contact with any official. However, unintentional and accidental contact does occur at times in our game. We will have no further comment on the matter at this time.
Wideman can't play during his appeal, according to James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail.
The Flames host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
