Dennis Wideman Signed Flames Jersey (Beckett COA) Abuse of a Linesman Incident

Custom on-ice style jersey. Everything is sewn on, size XL. Hand-signed in white paint pen by Dennis Wideman.              

On January 27, 2016, Wideman struck lineman Don Henderson from behind in a game between the Flames and Nashville Preds. Video footage showed Wideman getting body checked along the boards by the Predators Miikka Salomaki and getting up slowly. As he skated to the bench, he cross checked the linesman across his back. Henderson was injured by the hit and left the game. Following the game, Wideman claimed the check was unintentional and that he did not see Henderson until the last moment^.  Henderson suffered a concussion  as a result of the collision and would miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season It was later revealed that Wideman had also suffered a concussion on the Salomaki body check and refused treatment by the Flames' training staff, in violation of the NHL's mandatory head injury protocols.

Wideman was suspended indefinitely the next day, pending a hearing after the All Star break^.  On February 3, he was given a 20 game suspension without pay for the incident, the minimum sanction for deliberately striking an on-ice official under NHL Rule 40.2. Wideman also forfeited $564,516.18 in salary. While the NHL acknowledged that Wideman had been injured, it took the line that any possible disorientation Wideman suffered did not excuse the attack on Henderson^.

The suspension was immediately appealed to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who upheld the initial ruling, saying that a lengthy ban was merited given "the severity of the conduct involved." Bettman was also angered by Wideman's lack of remorse, citing a text Wideman sent to a teammate in which he blamed the furor over the hit on "the stupid refs and the stupid media." The NHL Players Association then appealed Wideman's suspension to a neutral arbitrator—the first time that this procedure had been used since the adoption of the renewed collective bargaining agreement. On March 11, arbitrator James Oldham concluded Wideman's attack on Henderson was not intentional and that he should have been penalized under Rule 40.3, thus reducing the penalty to 10 games. Wideman had already served 19 games at the time of the ruling but was refunded half of his forfeited salary  
The lot / autograph(s) includes an official Beckett Authentication Services serially numbered hologram and matching COA for authenticity purposes.
Authentication: Beckett COA