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 Friday, December 31
Richer suspended by Lightning
 
Associated Press

  TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning suspended Stephane Richer without pay Friday after he failed to report to the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League.

Richer, 33, has seven goals and five assists in 20 games this season. He missed 15 games because of a strained abdominal muscle.

Stephane Richer
Richer

The right wing was assigned to the Vipers on Thursday, two days after he left the Lightning and requested a trade.

Richer's agent, Richard Teoli, told the St. Petersburg Times on Thursday that Richer is willing to take the suspension and loss of salary. Richer left the club Tuesday when he realized he was no longer in the team's plans.

"I've never been in a situation where I was scratched (from a game), so for me it would be difficult to accept that," he told the Times on Wednesday.

Richer has 399 goals and 367 assists in 950 games with Montreal, New Jersey and Tampa Bay. He has 52 goals and 45 assists in 128 playoff games.
 


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