Lightning player suspended for altercation with Edge fan

London Lightning forward Kirk Williams Jr. has been suspended for one game by the National Basketball League of Canada after an altercation with a fan at Mile One Centre last weekend.

The male fan accused the Lightning player of squirting water and verbally assaulting him during the St. John’s Edge’s 110-108 win over the Lightning Saturday at Mile One.

Edge director of operations Trevor Murphy says the team investigated the incident, and although their official game video didn’t provide angles to show what happened, the Edge passed on what they had learned to the Lightning and the league, who in turn, explored the matter further, resulting in the suspension. It is not the first time 31-yearold Williams has faced NBL Canada discipline. He now has been suspended a total of 12 games since 2013, although in some cases — including once earlier this season — they were automatic one-game penalties levied because of the accumulation of technical fouls. Murphy says the team had felt it has been doing a good job at marshalling the area courtside during Edge home games at Mile One Centre, but that Saturday’s incident led to a review in their practices because “it is so important to us that we provide the best possible fan experience and best possible fan safety, as well as player safety.” He suggested there could be a heightened “presence” for the team’s two remaining home games over the Easter weekend and during next month’s playoffs. Murphy also said the Edge have been in contact with the fan involved in Saturday’s incident.