Flames’ Dennis Wideman suspended indefinitely for linesman hit

Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman was suspended indefinitely for crosschecking a linesman on Wednesday.

Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman was suspended by the NHL indefinitely for crosschecking linesman Don Henderson during Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators, the league announced on Thursday.

Wideman’s suspension is pending a post-All-Star Game hearing with the league.

The crosschecking of Henderson occurred midway through the second period, just after Wideman had taken a hit from Nashville’s Miikka Salomaki and was en route to Calgary’s bench.

Wideman claimed after the game that he did not see Henderson coming and couldn’t avoid him on his way off the ice.

ICYMI: Dennis Wideman cross-checked a linesman into the boards last night.https://t.co/S2Zoy9Opfjhttps://t.co/Aj0QMra8C1

— Stadium (@Stadium) January 28, 2016

“I took a pretty good hit down in the corner and had some pretty good pain in my shoulder and neck,” Wideman said. “I was just trying to get off the ice and kind of keeled over. At the last second, I looked up and saw [Henderson] and couldn’t avoid it. I went up to Donnie and apologized to him on the ice.

“I didn’t see him. I didn’t know where to go and how to get out of the way. I’ve been around for a few years, and I think I’ve treated every official with the utmost respect, and I would never intentionally try to hit a linesman or a ref. It was completely unintentional, and I already apologized to him.”

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Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported that Henderson was in the hospital until early Thursday morning in concussion protocol with neck pain and nausea.