Goalie Suspended 12 Games for Attack

Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltender Ron Hextall has been suspended for the first 12 games of next season for a deliberate attempt to injure a Montreal player, the National Hockey League announced today.

Late in the sixth game of the Stanley Cup playoff semifinals in which the Flyers were eliminated by the Canadiens earlier this month, Hextall skated out of his goal and attacked Montreal defenseman Chris Chelios with his stick.

Hextall said the attack was retaliation for an incident in the opening game of the series in which Chelios hit Philadelphia’s Brian Propp with an elbow to the head that sent him to a hospital with a slight concussion.

“Even though there was no injury involved, Hextall showed a complete disrespect for the league and the game by taking it upon himself to exact revenge. His actions appeared to be a blatant and premeditated attack on an opponent,” NHL Executive Vice President Brian O’Neill said in a statement.

In his decision, O’Neill noted that Hextall, notorious for using his stick to keep opposing players away from the front of his goal, was suspended for eight games two years ago for slashing Edmonton’s Kent Nilsson on the legs from behind.

Flyers President Jay Snider said the club would appeal the decision to the NHL’s board of governors.

Hextall will not be paid during his suspension.