SAINT JOHN – Saint John Sea Dogs’ captain Jonathan Huberdeau has been suspended for four games for his involvement in yesterday’s on-ice incident with a linesman, plus a fight against the Halifax Mooseheads.

The incident happened in the 3rd period of Saint John’s 4-2 loss at Harbour Station.

Huberdeau, 19, was getting an initial penalty for high-sticking when players on both teams were involved in some pushing and shoving near the penalty boxes.

Linesman Jay Doiron stepped in front of Huberdeau to escort him to the penalty box, but during the short skate to the box, Doiron fell awkwardly.

Huberdeau, now free of the official, engaged in a fight with Mooseheads’ defenceman Mackenzie Weegar.

The St-Jerome, Quebec, native Huberdeau ended up with the original high-sticking call, an instigator penalty, a five-minute major for fighting, a game misconduct for engaging in a fight in the final five minutes of a game, and a second game misconduct for abuse of officials.

Doiron said on his Twitter page today that his left knee “popped out.”

In its decision, the QMJHL issued an automatic one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of a game, plus three games for the abuse of officials incident.

“The usual practice of the League is to suspend the player for his 4 next team games, regardless of injury or participation in games played outside the QMJHL such as in the National Hockey League or international competition,” the league said in a release.

Huberdeau left today for Calgary, Alberta, to participate in the Team Canada selection camp for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ufa, Russia.

He will not miss any games at the tournament due to the suspension.

Sunday is believed to be Huberdeau’s last game as a Saint John Sea Dog, as the club is expected to trade its superstar during the QMJHL trading period that begins on December 22nd.

It is also possible that Huberdeau could be in the NHL with the Florida Panthers if a new collective bargaining agreement is signed in the near future.