PRESS BOX: NHL hands out suspensions to three
In a busy Monday for the NHL disciplinary department, the league handed down three suspensions.
The most severe of the three is a 10-game, regular-season ban for Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson. Two Vancouver Canucks, forwards Zack Kassian and Dale Weise, received lesser punishments for separate incidents.
Clarkson's suspension was automatic per league rules after he received a game misconduct penalty Sunday for being the first man off the bench to join in a brawl with the Buffalo Sabres.
The league cited Rule 70.10, which reads: "The first player to leave the players' or penalty bench illegally during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation from either or both teams shall be suspended without pay for the next 10 regular League and/or playoff games of his team."
Kassian will miss the Canucks' last three exhibition games and their first three regular-season games, and Weise will sit out the last three preseason games, both due to their actions during Saturday's preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Kassian's punishment is for high-sticking Oilers forward Sam Gagner in the second period. The incident led to a double-minor penalty during the game.
Weise received a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton forward Taylor Hall in the first period.
According to the NHL, Clarkson will lose $269,230.80 in salary, while Kassian will be out $22,500. The Players' Emergency Assistance Fund will receive the amount of the fines for regular-season games missed due to suspensions.
--San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres could miss anywhere from six weeks to four months with an ACL injury.
Torres was injured during Friday night's preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks when Torres collided with Anaheim's Emerson Etem.
He could be out six weeks if he does not have surgery. But if the Sharks determine that Torres needs surgery, he will miss three to four months. The team is expected to make a decision later this week.
GOLF
The Des Moines Golf and Country Club will play host to the 15th edition of the Solheim Cup in 2017.
Located in West Des Moines, Iowa, the course was the site of the 1999 U.S. Senior Open Championship. Being a 36-hole facility, it will also play host to the PING Junior Solheim Cup, featuring the top 12 girls from the United States against those from Europe.
The U.S. leads Europe 8-5 all-time in the Solheim Cup, with Europe staging a commanding 18-10 victory in Colorado last month. The 2015 Solheim Cup will take place at Golf Course St. Leon-Rot in Germany.
