UPEI has appealed the 12-game suspension handed to hockey Panther Mason Wilgosh on Tuesday.
“Once university officials received notification of the 12-game suspension and reviewed the situation, it was felt there was unfairness in the process, and in the severity of the suspension,” athletics director Ron Annear said in a news release issued Friday at 5:40 p.m. “Therefore, we filed an appeal today in accordance with (Atlantic University Sport) bylaws.”
Annear said the university would not speak further on the issue.
The suspension was issued Tuesday for a Nov. 30th hit in Wolfville, N.S. UPEI had until Saturday to file the appeal.
The appeal goes to the AUS’s judicial committee. Chairman Ron MacDonald, a Nova Scotia lawyer, will review the files and determine the next step.
Wilgosh hit Acadia defenceman Christopher Owens behind the Axemen’s goal. Owens is recovering from a concussion and has not written exams.
Wilgosh, a rookie from Winnipeg, has already sat one game. If the decision is upheld, he would not be able to play until Feb. 8 – the Panthers’ last game of the regular season.
