MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Brandon Wheat Kings have received bad news on the eve of their Western Hockey League playoff series with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Western Hockey League announced Friday that forward Matt Henry has been suspended eight games for a violation of the Canadian Hockey League Anti-Doping Policy.
The Wheat Kings later revealed that Henry had tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Both Henry and the Wheat Kings have been cooperative throughout the process and have worked with the WHL Anti-Doping Committee to complete the investigation.
“The Brandon Wheat Kings and the WHL take the issue of performance-enhancing drugs very seriously,” the team said in a statement on social media. “We believe in maintaining a level playing field for all athletes and in fostering a culture of healthy, fair competition.
“Matt has expressed his regret over the situation and has agreed to participate in counseling to address this issue. The Brandon Wheat Kings fully support Matt in his journey to understanding and overcoming this challenge. We are committed to his health and well-being and will be with him every step of the way.”
The 19-year-old winger had most recently played on the fourth line with Brandon and had a single assist in 37 games to go along with 100 penalty minutes while going minus-one for the Wheat Kings this season.
The eight-game suspension is standard policy for a first-time violation for using a prohibited substance.
Game one of the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference quarter-final series begins Friday night in Moose Jaw, with puck drop at 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
