April 18 (Reuters) – Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres
has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing for his brutal
hit on the Chicago Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa, the National Hockey
League said on Wednesday.
Hossa was sent sprawling by Torres in the first period of
Game Three of their best-of-seven series on Tuesday and left
motionless on the ice before being carried off on a stretcher
and taken to hospital.
The Blackhawks said Hossa had suffered an upper-body injury
but was discharged and recovering at home. They lost the game
3-2 in overtime.
Torres’ hearing was originally set for Wednesday but was
deferred until Friday at the request of the player and the
National Hockey League Players’ Association.
Phoenix lead the series 2-1 with Game Four set for Thursday
in Chicago.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Greg
Stutchbury)
