Austin Staats suspended one game for incident in Game 3 of West Conference Finals (Updated)
Austin Staats, San Diego Seals (Photo: Jaclyn McKee)
Update (December 13, 2022): Austin Staats suspension was for two games, not one like first thought
The Lax Mag has confirmed that San Diego Seals forward Austin Staats has been suspended for one game by the National Lacrosse League for an incident that occurred after Game 3 of last year’s West Conference Finals.
Staats was issued a match penalty at the 15-minute mark of the fourth quarter in the May 28th series-deciding contest against the Colorado Mammoth. The Mammoth won the tightly contested game 15-13.
Specific details of the infraction have not been shared, however, Staats was in violation of Rule 42 & Rule 41.3 from the NLL’s Official Rules. The two rules state:
RULE 42: DEFINITION OF GROSS MISCONDUCT PENALTY
The referee may impose a “Gross Misconduct” penalty on any player who is guilty of a gross misconduct of any kind. Any player incurring a “gross misconduct” penalty shall be assessed a match penalty and shall be subject to fine and/or suspension from the League Office. Violation for non-playing personnel will result in a bench minor penalty and game misconduct penalty, and the offender being removed from the game and subject to fine and/or suspension from the League Office.
For all gross misconducts regardless of when imposed, a total of ten (10) minutes shall be charged in the records of the offending player. The in-home shall serve the match penalty.
The following list of infractions, but not limited to, can result in a gross misconduct being assessed:
• Interfering with or striking a spectator
• Racial, gender, religious, sexual orientation taunts and/or slurs
• Spitting on or at an opponent, spectator or referee
41.3 MATCH PENALTY ASSESSED IN TEAMS LAST GAME
If a player receives a match penalty in their team’s last game, they shall receive an additional one (1) game suspension at the start of the next regular season.
Staats will miss the Seals’ season-opening game on December 3rd when they travel to Uniondale to take on the New York Riptide (7pm ET).
Missing the first three games of the 2021-22 regular season due to a knee injury, Staats still led Sean Diego in goals (37) and finished just five points shy of team point leader Wes Berg’s season-ending total (84). The suspended star added 19 points during San Diego’s four post-season games as well.
The Seals were recently involved in another post-game incident when the team played the Halifax Thunderbirds in exhibition action a November 12th.
The alleged altercation took place during the post-game handshakes between the two teams. The game, played at A’nowara’ko:wa Arena in Akwesasne, got heated at various times, which included a fight involving San Diego’s Brodie Merrill and Halifax’s Eric Fannell.
While the post-game altercation was investigated, The Lax Mag has learned that no suspensions to any players or coaches on either team were assessed.