Player Safety Report 12/29-1/4

PLAYER SAFETY REPORT 12/29-1/4

RIDGETOWN

Ridgetown’s Hunter Burk has been suspended 1 game for his actions in APHL game Motor City at Ridgetown on January 3, 2026

Burk is suspended under Rule 44.1 Clipping.

44.1. Clipping - Clipping is the act of throwing the body across or below the knees of an opponent from any direction. A player may not deliver a check in a “clipping” manner, nor lower his own body position to deliver a check on or below an opponent’s knees. An illegal “low hit” is a check that is delivered by a player or goalkeeper who may or may not have both skates on the ice, with his sole intent to check the opponent in the area of his knees. A player or goalkeeper may not lower his body position to deliver a check to an opponent’s knees.

44.6. Fines and Suspensions – There are no specified fines or suspensions for clipping, however, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule 28).

Burk will return to January 10th, 2026 against Summit City. 

WOOSTER

Nathan Schutte has been suspended 1 game for his actions in APHL game Northern Michigan at Wooster on January 4, 2026.

Schutte is suspended 1 game under Rule 58.4 Butt ending

58.4. Match Penalty - A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a butt-end. 

Schutte will return January 11, 2026 against Iron City.

THOUSAND ISLAND

Thousand Island’s Blaine McClellan has been suspended 1 games for his actions in APHL game Thousand Island at Buffalo on January 3, 2026.

McClellan is suspended under Rule 42.6 Charging 

42.1. Charging - A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player or goalkeeper who skates, jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner. Charging shall mean the actions of aplayer who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner.

42.6. Fines and Suspensions – any player, who incurs a total of three (3) game misconducts in the Checking related category for charging during the Regular season, shall be suspended automatically for the next game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. There are no specified fines or suspensions for charging, however, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule 28).

McClellan will miss Thousand island’s next game January 4, 2026 against Buffalo.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN 

Northern Michigan’s Jaden Bull has been suspended 1 game for his actions in APHL game Northern Michigan at Summit City January 3, 2026

Bull is suspended under Rule 62.4 Spearing

Spearing 62.4 

62.4. Match Penalty - A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a spear.

Bull will miss Northern Michigan’s next game January 10, 2026 against Motor City.

TOLEDO

Toledo’s Jay Denman has been suspended 3 games for his actions in APHL game Iron City  at Toledo on January 3, 2026.

Denman is suspended 2 games under Rule 75.2(ii) Unsportsmanlike Conduct 

(ii) Any player or goalkeeper who is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to hair-pulling, biting, grabbing a face mask, etc. If warranted, and specifically when injury results, the referee may apply Rule 21 – Match Penalties

Denman is suspended 1 game under Rule 58.4 Butt ending

58.4. Match Penalty - A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a butt-end. 

Denman will return January 10, 2026 against West Michigan.