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The Spokesman-Review

NHL

Simon suspended indefinitely

Chris Simon was suspended indefinitely Friday by the NHL, one day after his vicious two-handed stick swing to the face of New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg. Simon, who was given a match penalty Thursday night for deliberate attempt to injure, was summoned to a league hearing set for today.

Hollweg took a few stitches in the chin but was not seriously hurt.The length of Simon’s banishment won’t be determined until the hearing with league disciplinarian Colin Campbell.

The suspension could be as long as those given to Todd Bertuzzi and Marty McSorley following their violent infractions that also gave a black eye to hockey. The Islanders have 15 regular-season games left, and might be without Simon for those and the playoffs should the team qualify.

A spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that “no decision has been reached” about whether to bring charges against Simon.

Arena Football

Top quarterback joins Shock

Last season’s arenafootball2 Rookie of the Year agreed to play for the Spokane Shock this season.

Quarterback Brett Dietz, was a member of the Louisville Fire last season and Shock current head coach, Adam Shackleford, was Dietz’s offensive coordinator in Louisville.

Last season Dietz led the league in passing efficiency (126.7). He finished the season with 4,214 yards (fourth in the league), and 90 passing touchdowns (fourth in the league) while leading the Fire to a playoff berth.

Dietz is familiar with the Shock. Last season he led Louisville to a 79-69 victory over the Shock, racking up eight touchdowns and 259 yards passing in the game.

Also joining the Shock are linemen SirKeevin Hardiman (6-foot-1, 260 pounds) and Amos Lamb (6-5, 321).

The Shock open training camp today. Staff writer Jessica Brown will report on the first day in Sunday’s sports section.

NBA

Sonics suspend forward Fortson

The Seattle SuperSonics suspended already idled forward Danny Fortson for two games without pay for conduct detrimental to the team.

The suspension covers Friday night’s game at Boston and Sunday’s game at Toronto. Fortson, a 10th-year veteran, is in the final year of a contract paying him nearly $6.6 million this season. So Fortson will lose more than $160,900 during the suspension.

General manager Rick Sund announced the punishment a day after Fortson missed a practice during a road trip in Boston that was mandatory for reserves. The 6-8, 260-pound bruiser, who has played in just 13 of the Sonics’ 61 games this season and none since Jan. 5 because of chronically sore knees, also reportedly missed a morning shootaround this week before a game in New York.