Editor's note: The following story has been updated from its original version.
The Sudbury Wolves are being investigated by the Ontario Hockey League over allegations a bounty was placed on an opposing player from the Barrie Colts, according to a report from Sportnet's Jeff Marek.
The story says the issue began at a Jan. 18 game between the Colts and the Wolves.
Marek writes that Colts defender Kashawn Aitcheson hit Sudbury forward Nathan Villeneuve with a hard body check. Although the hit was legal, Marek stated, and no penalty was called, the check didn’t sit well with Wolves defencemen Nolan Collins, who fought Aitcheson later in the same game.
Three days later, when the two teams met again, Barrie didn’t dress Aitcheson for the game, Marek reports.
The game sheet from Jan. 21, a 6-3 Wolves victory in Sudbury, confirms Aitcheson was not in the lineup.
“According to those sources, word reached the Colts about the possibility of a bounty being placed on Aitcheson, so the organization made a decision not to play him,” Marek writes.
He also reported that the league told him the incident was being investigated, but wouldn’t comment.
Village Media has reached out to the Wolves for comment, but so far our message has not been returned.
Marek said neither the Colts nor the Wolves would comment on his story.
When reached by text message by BarrieToday on Wednesday afternoon, Colts head coach and general manager Marty Williamson said he could not comment while the league investigation is ongoing.
OHL fans will have a chance to see the Colts and Wolves in action at Sudbury Community Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The two teams also meet on Saturday, March 16 at Sadlon Arena, and again up in Sudbury on Friday, March 22 in the penultimate game of the regular-season schedule.
The Wolves (32-16-3-3) sit first in the Eastern Conference, while the Colts (21-28-3-0) are in eighth place.
