NCIHL 25-26
Crease Chaos: Short and Klein Suspended Following Blue Wings’ OT Thriller
last month - 2/22/2026 2:51 PM GMT-3
CLIFTON — The dust has settled on one of the most physical games of the season, but the league is still handing out the bill.
League officials announced this morning that Barry Short of the Bishop McCordell Blue Wings and Allen Klein of the Clifton Warriors have both been issued one-game suspensions effective immediately. The discipline stems from their full-ice brawl during the third period of last night’s intense 2-1 overtime victory for the Blue Wings.
The Spark in the Paint
The tension, which had been simmering through two scoreless periods, boiled over at the 12:44 mark of the third. Following a controversial collision in the Warriors' crease, Short—never one to shy away from a confrontation—shucked his blockers and sprinted toward center ice. Klein met him at the red line, and the two exchanged a series of heavy blows before being wrestled to the ice by officials.
Both netminders were assessed five-minute majors for fighting and game misconducts.
Game Recap: Blue Wings Edge Out the Win
Despite the loss of their starting goaltenders, the game remained a defensive masterclass.
The Stand-ins: With both starters tossed, backup goalies were thrust into a cold game. Clifton’s defense tightened up, but the Blue Wings found the extra gear.
The Decider: Just three minutes into the overtime period, Blue Wings forward Sammy Gifford slipped a clapper past the Warriors’ substitute to seal the 2-1 win.
The Fallout: While Bishop McCordell walks away with the 3 points.
League officials announced this morning that Barry Short of the Bishop McCordell Blue Wings and Allen Klein of the Clifton Warriors have both been issued one-game suspensions effective immediately. The discipline stems from their full-ice brawl during the third period of last night’s intense 2-1 overtime victory for the Blue Wings.
The Spark in the Paint
The tension, which had been simmering through two scoreless periods, boiled over at the 12:44 mark of the third. Following a controversial collision in the Warriors' crease, Short—never one to shy away from a confrontation—shucked his blockers and sprinted toward center ice. Klein met him at the red line, and the two exchanged a series of heavy blows before being wrestled to the ice by officials.
Both netminders were assessed five-minute majors for fighting and game misconducts.
Game Recap: Blue Wings Edge Out the Win
Despite the loss of their starting goaltenders, the game remained a defensive masterclass.
The Stand-ins: With both starters tossed, backup goalies were thrust into a cold game. Clifton’s defense tightened up, but the Blue Wings found the extra gear.
The Decider: Just three minutes into the overtime period, Blue Wings forward Sammy Gifford slipped a clapper past the Warriors’ substitute to seal the 2-1 win.
The Fallout: While Bishop McCordell walks away with the 3 points.
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