Newfoundland Growlers captain suspended for 7 games after off-ice fist fight

The game hadn't started yet, butNewfoundland Growlers captain James Melindyappeared to have a score to settle.

Melindy and the Brampton Beast's Mike Folkes, already dressedfor Sunday's game in Brampton, Ont., duked it out in front of the Beast dressing room.

A video of the fight shows both players landing punchesnear the entrance to the rink, as families and teammates look on.

Both players were benched for Sunday's game, and the ECHL issued a hefty seven-game suspension to each player Tuesday afternoon.

Melindy and Folkeswere also "fined an undisclosed amount as a result of their actions," the league announced.

Under the league's collective agreement, player fines collected by the ECHLare deposited into a player's hardship fund.

Both teams have also been fined but the league hasn't revealed the amount.

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