After the NHL upheld Dennis Wideman’s 20 game suspension for cross-checking official Don Henderson back three plus weeks ago, the man on the wrong side of the hit is still experiencing concussion-like symptoms and other pain, which threatens to keep him out for the rest of the season.
The Calgary Sun shared some of the chilling details of what Henderson has dealt with since the hit.
“He still can’t do anything because he hasn’t gone two days symptom-free,” said a source familiar with Henderson’s back pain and concussion struggles since the collision that earned Wideman a 20-game suspension.
“I don’t think he’s coming back anytime soon, if at all.”
In case you’ve never seen the video (which doesn’t seem possible nearly a month after the incident) of the hit, here it is.
Dennis Wideman looked like he straight-up checked the linesman. pic.twitter.com/iau1Jd7Vaf
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) January 28, 2016
The 47 year-old veteran official cannot begin exercising until he is two days free of any symptoms of the hit, and also has been experiencing back pain as a result of the hit. He had back surgery just about a decade ago. Henderson did finish officiating the Predators/Flames game in question, but spent that night in a Calgary hospital with concussion-like symptoms and hasn’t officiated a game since.
The Sun attempted to contact Henderson via text message but he’s maintained radio silence. Henderson has also stopped texting friends, as his phone records could be examined as part of the case.
Henderson started officiating games in 1994, and has officiated over 1,200 games and is one of the longest serving linesmen in the league. Older NHL officials have been pressured to retire recently in order to get now and younger blood into the game.
For the first time in NHL history, the case will now be decided by a neutral arbitrator to see whether Wideman’s suspension will remain at 20 games. Wideman has missed the last nine games while his case is being decided.
