TORONTO (CP) - London Knights coach Dale Hunter has been suspended indefinitely by the Ontario Hockey League pending a hearing for gestures he made towards officials in Thursday's game in Peterborough.
Hunter mocked referee Joel Washkurak and was ejected with 8:43 remaining in the penalty-filled game, which Peterborough won 6-2. There was a line brawl between the two clubs in the second period during which both goaltenders fought.
Hunter, who will have a hearing with the OHL on Tuesday, drew the ire of the league by looking at the referee and circling his fingers around his eyes as if wearing glasses. He also did a variation of thumbing his nose at the officials.
Hunter, who played in the NHL for 19 seasons, was suspended for four games to start the season for sarcastically applauding a referee in one pre-season game and also because a player left the bench with play in progress to initiate a fight in another exhibition game.
Knights rookie forward Jordan Foreman was suspended for a minimum of three games and has a hearing scheduled for Monday because he manhandled a linesman.
London goaltender Adam Dennis and forward Kelly Thomson and Petes goaltender Jeff MacDougald and forward Patrick Kaleta received automatic two-game suspensions for fighting on the same stoppage of play.
The Knights are the 2005 Memorial Cup hosts and set a Canadian Hockey League record this season for the most consecutive games without a loss at 31.
Lmao A variation of thumbing his nose. The CHL keeps trying to keep this guy down...they can't tame him.
