The NHL Friday suspended Chicago Blackhawks wing Stu Grimson for 10 games and scheduled a disciplinary hearing for Toronto's Wendel Clark after a 10-minute brawl between their teams.
Grimson, who used to play for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, Clark and five other players participated in the melee that erupted with 3:46 remaining in Chicago's 4-0 victory Thursday night.Both players were ejected, along with Chicago's Bryan Marchment and Steve Smith and Toronto's Bob Halkidis.
Clark received a match penalty, which requires automatic league review. He is scheduled to appear Tuesday at Toronto before Brian O'Neill, the NHL's executive vice president.
Action against the remaining players could come after O'Neill reviews written reports and a videotape of the game, spokesman Gary Meagher said by telephone Friday from Philadelphia, site of today's All-Star Game.
Grimson was suspended automatically after the game for abuse of officials. The length of the suspension, which begins with Thursday's game against Quebec, was determined by the game referee based on the severity of Grimson's action, O'Neill said.
Grimson got a double game misconduct after being tackled once by referee Dan Marouelli as he crossed the ice looking for opponents during the fight.
Later, he broke away from coach Mike Keenan after being ordered to the bench.
Grimson was not immediately available for comment.
Keenan blamed the brawl on game officials who, he said, let things get out of hand.