Oilers' Andrew Ference suspended 3 games for illegal check to head
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andrew Ference has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Zack Kassian, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.
Ference was penalized during Saturday's game for the check against Kassian, and he will miss the team's games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres.
Despite having his helmet knocked off on the hit, Kassian stayed in the game.
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Last season, the 35-year-old Ference won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which honors leadership and humanitarian contribution.
The incident is the third time in Ference's career that he has been suspended for an illegal hit. Most recently, he was suspended during the 2013 playoffs when he was a member of the Bruins.
The Oilers have started the season 4-6-1 and are in sixth place in the Pacific Division. They play at the Flyers on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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- Paul Palladino