TORONTO (February 17, 2016): The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) issued the following statement this evening regarding the National Hockey League’s (NHL) decision to uphold Dennis Wideman’s suspension for 20 games:

“We are extremely disappointed but not surprised that Gary Bettman upheld the decision of his staff to suspend Dennis Wideman for 20 games. This decision completely ignores the effects of the concussion that Dennis sustained when he was driven into the boards eight seconds before colliding with the linesman. We will appeal to the Neutral Discipline Arbitrator in order to have this decision overturned.”