NHL veteran Shawn Horcoff of the Anaheim Ducks has been suspended for 20 games for violating the league's performance enhancing substances program. The suspension came down Tuesday afternoon after rumblings of an "off-ice issue" surfaced just after noon ET.
Shawn Horcoff suspended 20 games following positive test for performance enhancing drugs
Horcoff will sit until mid-March and maybe longer.
Harry How/Getty Images
Horcoff suspended 20 games. pic.twitter.com/ARAGZtEKxt
— Travis Hughes (@TravisSBN) January 26, 2016 Horcoff will forfeit north of $357,000 in salary due to the suspension. The Ducks center is making $1.75 million on a one-year deal this season.
The earliest Horcoff would be able to crack the Ducks' lineup again would be March 11 against the St. Louis Blues, which would mean missing about a month and a half of NHL action. The center might not even be wanted back in the lineup by then considering he has produced just 10 points -- six goals and four assists -- in 45 games while spending over 13 minutes a night on the fourth line.
The 37-year-old was acquired by the Ducks as a free agent in 2015 after spending the last two seasons with the Dallas Stars.
Update: Horcoff released a statement via the NHLPA on the suspension:
Full statement from Horcoff, via NHLPA: pic.twitter.com/JiTiB8HN0s
— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) January 26, 2016 ”While recovering from an injury I suffered this past fall, I tried a treatment that I believe would help speed up the healing process.
Although I was unaware that this treatment was not permitted under NHL rules, that is no excuse whatsoever. I should have done my research and I should have checked with the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program’s doctors. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I am sorry.
Throughout my entire career, I have felt genuinely blessed and honred to play the great game of hockey, and I regret the impact that this may have on my team and our fans.
I look forward to the day I return to the ice for the playoff push.”
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