WHL levies penalties

Chiefs’ Sauter, Letts suspended after brawls

Mon., March 2, 2009

Spokane Chiefs coach Hardy Sauter has been suspended for a game and forward Ryan Letts indefinitely in the wake of Saturday night’s Western Hockey League donnybrook with the Tri-City Americans.

It was Letts’ charging of Ams goaltender Chet Pickard that ignited the first of two third-period line brawls between the U.S. Division rivals in a 5-2 Tri-City win. By game’s end, 342 penalty minutes and 21 game-misconduct penalties had been assessed.

Pickard reportedly suffered a concussion from the blow.

The length of Letts’ suspension remains to be determined by the WHL office. Sauter was suspended for a game for the team’s fourth multiple fight of the season, and defenseman Cory Baldwin will sit for a game after his third game misconduct of the season. The Chiefs were also fined $1,250.

For the Ams, defenseman Mitch McColm also received a to-be-determined suspension. Assistant coach Terry Virtue was fined $500 for a game misconduct, and the Ams were fined $750.

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WHL levies penalties

Jesse Tinsley

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