Chiefs captain Bruton suspended indefinitely

Chris Bruton and the Spokane Chiefs got a partial answer on Friday in regards to the fallout from Wednesday’s postgame incident at the Arena.

The Chiefs’ captain will serve a suspension, length of time to be announced by the Western Hockey League office, for his punch that floored Everett’s Kyle Beach following the Chiefs’ 2-1 loss to the Silvertips on Wednesday.

Bruton was out of the lineup for the Chiefs’ game in Seattle on Friday.

“It’s certainly disappointing,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said.

If you haven’t watched the video, or weren’t there to see, it all started when Everett’s Graham Potuer and Spokane’s Mitch Wahl stared each other down at the side of the Everett net.

Potuer shoved Wahl just as Beach came up behind Wahl to get involved. Beach grabbed hold of Wahl when the shove came, Wahl lost his balance and the two got tied up. The linesman got between Wahl and Beach to break it up.

While the three were twisted, Beach gave Wahl a facial with his glove and Wahl’s arm caught the back of Beach’s head. After Beach and Wahl were separated, Bruton approached the scene from behind to defend Wahl.

Beach turned and, after some words were exchanged, gave Bruton a shove in the face, to which Bruton responded by delivering a gloved right punch that sent Beach straight to the ice.

Beach was immobilized with a neck brace on the ice, but was helped off by teammates – not taken on a stretcher like the Chiefs’ doctor recommended – and did not go to the hospital following the game.

Beach didn’t practice Thursday and was not in Everett’s lineup for its game Friday against Portland.

Calls to the league office for comment were not returned, but Speltz expected more answers to come today.

“I think they are debating on the seriousness of the injury and the two players involved and their history,” said Speltz. “It’s out of our hands, so we’re waiting to hear just like everyone else.”