Hatcher Suspended by NHL

The NHL suspended Minnesota North Star defenseman Derian Hatcher for 10 games without pay for a stick-swinging incident with the Washington Capitals’ Dino Ciccarelli.

Ciccarelli was struck beneath the left eye with the pointed end of the stick during a game last Saturday.

“The swing . . . was vicious,” NHL Vice President Brian O’Neill said. “The blade of the stick was deliberately turned in, and this was a direct cause of the extent of the injury. The player used extremely reckless and careless means to check an opponent who at the time was not in possession of the puck.”