Sudbury Wolves put bounty on Barrie Colts player, report alleges

The Sudbury Wolves are being investigated by the Ontario Hockey League over allegations a bounty was placed on an opposing player from the Barrie Colts, according to a report from Sportnet’s Jeff Marek.

The story says the issue began at a Jan. 18 game between the Colts and the Wolves.

Marek writes that Colts defender Kashawn Aitcheson hit Sudbury forward Nathan Villeneuve with a hard body check. Although the hit was legal, Marek stated, and no penalty was called, the check didn’t sit well with Wolves defencemen Nolan Collins, who fought Aitcheson later in the same game.

Three days later, when the two teams met again, Barrie didn’t dress Aitcheson for the game, Marek reports.

The game sheet from Jan. 21, a 6-3 Wolves victory in Sudbury, confirms Aitcheson was not in the lineup.

“According to those sources, word reached the Colts about the possibility of a bounty being placed on Aitcheson, so the organization made a decision not to play him,” Marek writes.

He also reported that the league told him the incident was being investigated, but wouldn’t comment.