The National Lacrosse League has concluded its review of a bench clearing brawl that took place on December 15th during a preseason scrimmage between the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits. A total of 32 players were disciplined by the league today for their actions in the game, highlighted by the bench-clearing brawl that broke out with 5:02 remaining in the 3rd quarter and led officials to cancel the remainder of the scrimmage.
The league handed down one-game suspensions to two players: Bandits forward Rusty Kruger and Rock goaltender Pat Campbell. The two players were identified by game officials as being the first to leave their respective benches to join the fight and thus received automatic suspensions. Campbell will serve the suspension during the Rock regular season opener on January 8 unless an appeal is filed. Kruger was released by the Bandits during preseason and would serve his suspension prior to playing in his next NLL game.
A total of 30 other players were assessed with Game Misconduct penalties, 16 of whom were also fined for leaving the bench to join the melee. A summary of player discipline from the game is listed below.
All player discipline issued during NLL scrimmages and preseason games carries over to the regular season, including suspensions and game misconducts. Players who accumulate a total of three game misconduct penalties in one season are assessed with an automatic one-game suspension. Game misconducts assessed during preseason count towards this total. Some of the players who were disciplined have since been released.
Summary of Discipline
Game Misconducts
Buffalo – Joe Smith*, Brett Bucktooth (2), Chris Corbeil, Jason Crosbie*, Chad Culp, Tom Montour, Holden Vyse*
Toronto – Tim O'Brien, Ryan Dilks*, Jeff Gilbert, Stephen Hoar, Stephan Leblanc, Rob Marshall, Brice Queener*
Game Misconduct & Fine (for leaving bench)
Buffalo – Elijah Printup*, Kyle Schmelze*, Steve Priolo, Wayne VanEvery*, Travis Irving, Ian Llord, Isiah Kicksnoway*, Brandon Francis, Jeff Powless
Toronto — Blaine Manning, Pat Saunders, Geoff McNulty*, Damon Edwards*, Kyle Ross, Glen Bryan*, Mike Hobbins
One-Game Suspensions
Buffalo – Rusty Kruger*
Toronto – Pat Campbell
*denotes players not on team's current 23-man active roster
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