Defenseman Rob Ramage of the Calgary Flames...

Defenseman Rob Ramage of the Calgary Flames was suspended for 8 games by the National Hockey League for a stick infraction involving Doug Bodger of the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 15.

Brian O’Neill, NHL executive vice president, said the unusual delay in issuing the suspension was the result of the travel schedule of Sabre General Manager Gerry Meehan and a delay in providing a videotape of the incident to the league office.

“Although Ramage does not have a previous history of stick fouls, players must understand that there can be no excuse for reckless swinging of their sticks at opponents,” O’Neill said.

The incident occurred in Calgary’s 3-2 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo. Ramage swung his stick at Bodger, who, the Flames claim, set an illegal pick on Ramage that enabled Pierre Turgeon to score the winning goal.

No penalty was called on the play. Bodger wasn’t cut but the blow raised a welt on his face.

Calgary Coach Terry Crisp said he was stunned by the severity of the suspension and expected that the club would appeal.

“(Ramage) taps a guy along the side of the head with a stick; a player in Edmonton knocks out three teeth and breaks a jaw and gets 6 games. I don’t understand where they draw the line or where the justification is.”

Earlier this season, Edmonton’s Mark Messier was suspended for 6 games after hitting the Vancouver Canucks’ Rick Sutter in the mouth with his stick.

Ramage becomes the eighth player to be suspended for a stick foul this season. The suspensions have ranged from 3 games to the 12 received by New York Ranger defenseman David Shaw for cross-checking Mario Lemieux.