Player to miss the end of the season after push that sent referee into the boards
Adam Beckman, a forward for the Bridgeport Islanders, an AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, has been suspended for 10 games on Wednesday after being involved in an incident of “physical abuse against an official” during the April 5 game.
During the game against the Charlotte Checkers, Beckman skated directly toward the referee and pushed him, sending the official into the boards. The referee fell onto the ice with visible signs of pain, but managed to get up without assistance and continued the game.
The AHL decided to punish Beckman with a 10-game suspension, which will keep him out of the last five games of the current season and the first five games of the next season, regardless of the team he plays for, since his contract is ending and he will become a free agent.
Although the collision appeared accidental — Beckman seemed distracted at the time and appeared to apologize immediately after the play — the impact was severe enough to warrant the punishment.
Adam Beckman of the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) has been suspended 10 games after this play for abuse of official 😳
(h/t @BB_URSentinel) pic.twitter.com/LZGJDaUe1Z
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 9, 2025
Acquired earlier this year in a trade with the Devils, Beckman has registered four goals and seven points in 12 games for Bridgeport. He was selected in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, for whom he played 23 games in the NHL.
Incidents involving officials, while rare, can be serious. In 2024, NHL referee Steve Kozari had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher after an accidental collision with Haydn Fleury, then a defenseman for the Lightning. Kozari recovered and returned to work later that month.
Source and images: NyPost / X @GinoHard_. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
