Checkers' tough guy suspended four games

Charlotte Checkers defenseman T.J. Reynolds, the team enforcer, was suspended four games by the ECHL and fined an undisclosed amount for wildly swinging his stick in a road game Saturday.

While exiting the ice against Kalamazoo after being assessed a misconduct penalty late in the third period, Reynolds raised his stick and motioned it toward spectators, and slammed the stick into the protective overhang.

“It has been clearly communicated to our teams and players that, regardless of the circumstances, any negative interaction or contact with fans, physical or otherwise, will not be tolerated,” ECHL vice president of hockey operations Mike Murray said in a statement. “Fortunately there were no injuries as a result of this incident.”

Reynolds missed Wednesday's home game, and will sit out at Gwinnett (Saturday), against Kalamazoo (Sunday) and at Gwinnett (Monday).