Jason Wulder suspended
In an “interesting” turn of events, the NLL has suspended the Roughneck’s third top scorer for one game. What makes this so interesting is that the suspension wasn’t announced until today, 5 full days after the game against Colorado. The reason for the suspension? Wulder’s illegal cross checking penalty in the fourth quarter.
The suspension was handed down by the league after they reviewed the tapes of the game in which Colordao forward Gavin Prout was also suspended. According to the league, Wulder was suspended because of a violation of rule 64, attempt to injure, when he cross checked a Mammoth player. In defense of the league’s decision, the officials did call the cross checking penalty as a five minute major as opposed to a two minute minor.
How much does this suck for the Roughnecks? Only time will tell. Gavin Prout, suspended for leaving the bench during an altercation in the same game, is appealing his suspension. Prout’s case will be heard by the league today and we should know the result either late today or tomorrow. If the league overturns the suspension, Prout will play on Saturday.
In Wulder’s case he’s got very few options, appealing the suspension being the best of those options. When Wulder appeals the decision here’s how it breaks down after the appeal is received by the league:
- if the league can’t hear it before the weekend, Wulder plays
- if the league can hear it before the game, Wulder’s fate is in their hands
For the conspiracy theorists out there this development is definitely ripe with the signs of such. First of all, why five days after the call is made? Why so close to the playoff game?
In all objectiveness, I think the league is trying to make the game “fair”. Prout was suspended so find the closest thing that would offer a suspension against Calgary. I have a feeling that Wulder’s suspension will hinge on what happens today in Prout’s appeal.