Van Dorp, Churla Draw 10-Game Suspensions for Pregame Brawl

Wayne Van Dorp of the Chicago Blackhawks and Shane Churla of the Minnesota North Stars each were suspended 10 games without pay, and their teams were fined $25,000 apiece Saturday by the NHL for their pregame fight Dec. 28.

Also, Minnesota’s Basil McRae was suspended five games without pay. Churla, McRae, Mark Tinordi and Dave Mackey of the North Stars and Van Dorp, Duane Sutter, Dirk Graham and Bob McGill of the Blackhawks each were fined $500.

The suspensions will take effect Jan. 13 unless the teams notify the NHL within 24 hours that they will not appeal.

The North Stars and Blackhawks got into a full-scale fight a half-hour before their game at Chicago Stadium. Every player eventually got involved in the brawl.

NHL executive vice president Brian O’Neill said the teams were automatically fined $25,000 each for taking part.

“In 1987, the NHL adopted significant legislation to deal specifically with this type of incident,” O’Neill said. “This is the first such incident since the new rule was adopted.”