The NHL announced that it has suspended Garnet Hathaway three games for spitting on Erik Gudbranson during the second period of Wednesday’s game. Hathaway had a hearing with the NHL this morning.
Hathaway will also forfeit $24,193.53 of his salary to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Washington Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway suspended three games for spitting incident: https://t.co/OUcZUfJkoO pic.twitter.com/uDitPBBiBt
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 20, 2019
Hathaway spit on Gudbranson after the Ducks defenseman suckered punched him while the two players were being held apart by officials. After the game, Hathaway expressed regret but did not apologize. He said spitting “has no place (in the game).” Gudbranson responded by saying that the incident was about as low” as hockey behavior gets.
Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said that “I think I’ve been in pro hockey 30 years maybe, and I’ve never seen that before. It’s just something you don’t see in the game. It’s just a head-shaker.” He added, “I’m just glad it wasn’t one of our guys that did that because that wouldn’t go well in our dressing room.”
Hathaway will be eligible to return November 29 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong
