Wideman ‘ disappointed,’ apologetic
Sorry, stripes.
Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman — the man in the middle of hockey’s hot- button story — issued a public apology Thursday to linesman Don Henderson, adding he is “really disappointed” with the 20- game suspension he was handed by the NHL for his controversial collision with the official last week.
Wideman addressed the media after practising with teammates Thursday at the Saddledome, his first skate since the incident.
With the NHLPA appealing the suspension on his behalf, the 32- year- old did not take questions.
“Firstly, I want to apologize to Donnie Henderson,” Wideman said. “I feel awful about what happened. Hopefully, he’s recovering and he’s going to be back on the ice soon, but I feel really bad about the whole situation. The last seven days have been tough.
“Never in my career have I ever disrespected or done anything like this to an official. I think I’ve prided myself on having a great working relationship with the officials and I hope to continue that when I get out there. But again, I just want to apologize to Donnie. I feel awful about what happened.
“As far as the suspension goes, I’m really disappointed with the decision and the length of the suspension. I did not have any intent at any time to hit the official or hurt him or anything like that. I would never do something like that, and I’m pretty disappointed with the decision.”
Wideman also thanked fans and the Flames organization for their support during the ordeal and mentioned the respect that was shown for Mike Cvik, another longtime linesman who received a stirring send- off when he worked his final NHL game at the Saddledome in early January.
“I think, in the past, our organization has done a great job of honouring linesmen and officials, just as recently as Mike Cvik. And our fans, too. I think, when we sent ( Cvik) off the ice after the game and they gave him a standing ovation, I think that’s something that shows how we feel about the officials in this league, and that’s something that I want to be a part of going forward.”
The NHL made it clear with Wednesday’s suspension announcement — the most severe abuse- of- official punishment since Tom Lysiak’s 20- game sit- down for tripping a linesman in 1983 — that they’re not necessarily buying Wideman’s insistence his crosscheck on Henderson was just an unfortunate oopsie.
They also noted in a lengthy explanation video that Wideman’s “exemplary” record — prior to his collision with the Calgary- based linesman, the 11- year NHL veteran had never been suspended or fined — didn’t excuse his actions.
“Physical abuse of an official is one of the most serious offences an NHL player can commit,” the league said in the video. “Even if this was an isolated, out- of- character lapse in judgment, it requires a significant penalty.”
Wideman’s participation in Thursday’s practice at the Saddledome was something of a surprise, especially since it was revealed during Tuesday’s disciplinary hearing in Toronto he had suffered a concussion before running over Henderson — an apparent plea for leniency because he was dazed and disoriented.
Flames head coach Bob Hartley told reporters Wideman has since cleared the NHL’s concussion protocol and was given the medical green light to return to the ice.
“He was all tested and everything, so he’s good to go.”
Henderson was also treated for a concussion that night. He has not officiated a game since.
According to an NHLPA spokesperson, the date for Wideman’s appeal to league commissioner Gary Bettman has not yet been set.
Under the terms of his current 20- game banishment, Wideman is not eligible to return until a March 14 meeting with the St. Louis Blues.
Even though he won’t be suiting up for a game anytime soon, his Flames teammates were pleased to see him on the ice Thursday.
“He wears a letter on our team for a reason,” fellow alternate captain Kris Russell said. “For how big of a player he is on the ice for us, he’s even bigger in the room. He’s probably one of, if not the most vocal guy. So having him back on the ice, it’s huge. It’s huge for our dressing room and it’s huge for our morale.”