The OHL has shown no tolerance for crossing the line, hitting Barrie Colts’ rising star Kashawn Aitcheson with a suspension that will echo through the rink and the city.
Saturday night in Sault Ste. Marie, the Barrie Colts watched a 3-1 lead slip away before losing in a shootout to the Greyhounds. The action on the ice bled into the walk to the tunnel. On his way off, Aitcheson, the Colts’ top-scoring defenceman, turned and sprayed a heckling fan with his water bottle. The league’s response came quickly and firmly: two games in the press box for “interacting with a spectator.”
The OHL rule book is clear—players aren’t to interfere with fans, and the league made an example out of Aitcheson. He’ll miss crucial matchups against Saginaw and Peterborough, putting his team in a tough spot just as his red-hot goal streak was firing on all cylinders. He’s not just any defender; he leads the league in goals from the blue line and sits second among OHL defencemen in points. The Colts will be scrambling to fill that massive gap, with Aitcheson’s chase for a historic 50-goal season now put on hold.
It wasn’t just Barrie feeling the fallout. The Greyhounds’ Blake Arrowsmith got a game for slashing, and Spencer Evans picked up a suspension for inciting after tempers flared post-game. The message from the OHL brass: play hard, play tough, but keep it inside the boards. Any step over that line, and you’re out.
The Colts, the fans, and the rest of the league better pay attention. These suspensions aren’t just about one wild night—they’re about setting the tone for what’s expected in rinks across Ontario. Discipline, respect, and accountability have never mattered more, especially when a championship run could be derailed by a moment’s frustration. Buckle up, Barrie—this ride just got bumpy.
References:
OHL star Kashawn Aitcheson suspended after wild post-game altercation with fan
OHL Dishes Out Several Suspensions In Result Of Greyhounds And Barrie’s Post-Game Fiasco
