Schoenfeld Gets Suspension, Fine : New Jersey Coach Penalized for Altercation With Official

New Jersey Devils’ Coach Jim Schoenfeld was suspended for one game and fined $1,000 by the National Hockey League on Tuesday for his run-in last week with referee Don Koharski. The Devils also were fined $10,000.

The penalty was announced by NHL President John Ziegler after a 4 1/2-hour hearing at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The suspension was set for 30 minutes before the Devils played the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup semifinals Tuesday night.

Schoenfeld was originally suspended for one game by the league on Sunday but the Devils obtained a restraining order because they said the coach was denied due process because the NHL did not grant him a hearing.

The on-ice officials refused to take the ice just before the start of the game and amateur officials were used. The Devils beat the Bruins, 3-1, to even their best-of-seven series, 2-2.

Earlier Tuesday, the NHL and the Devils were back in New Jersey Superior Court, and Ziegler said the court refused to extend the temporary restraining order issued Sunday night.

Ziegler said although a review does not show that Schoenfeld made physical contact with Koharski in the runway of Byrne Arena, the coach’s conduct was “demeaning and disrespectful.”

Ziegler added that he felt Schoenfeld’s conduct after the Devils’ 6-1 loss in Game 3 last Friday night was “prejudicial to the welfare of hockey.”

Ziegler said the fines could be appealed under league bylaws, but the suspension becomes effective immediately.

“I disagree with the ruling completely,” Devils owner John McMullen said. “This is not finished.”

Devils’ President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello coached the team in Schoenfeld’s absence. Lamoriello was the head coach at Providence College for 15 years.

Ziegler could not be located to act on the events of Sunday night. He said Tuesday that he was on a personal errand and when pressed on his whereabouts, declined comment.

Asked when he attended his last NHL game, Ziegler said: “I don’t have to answer that.”

The NHL on Monday rescinded Schoenfeld’s day-old suspension and invited the coach and Devils management to the meeting with the league’s hierarchy.

The NHL solved any future problems with the officials by agreeing with the union representing them to provide more security for officials.

There was no doubt that Schoenfeld verbally abused Koharski. He waited for the official to leave the ice and more than a few people heard him say to the referee “have another doughnut, you fat pig.”

Koharski, still on skates, then walked away from Schoenfeld down a hall and appeared to slip. He accused Schoenfeld of pushing him, but Ziegler said tapes showed that Schoenfeld did not make contact with the official.

Bruins’ general manager Harry Sinden said his team would look at the possibility of a forfeit for Sunday night’s game.

However, Ziegler said he was “not aware” of any grounds for a protest.