WHL coach suspended indefinitely after attacking his own player at practice!

This just in, the WHL's Swift Current Broncos have suspended head coach Devan Praught indefinitely following an alleged altercation with a player during practice earlier this week.

From the Broncos' official press release announcement:

Swift Current, SK. – Swift Current Broncos General Manager Chad Leslie announced today that Head Coach Devan Praught has been suspended indefinitely, for an alleged violation of the Western Hockey League Standards of Conduct. The WHL Security Network is reviewing the matter.

Assistant Coach Taras McEwen will assume the head coaching duties until further notice.

The alleged incident occurred on-ice during Swift Current Broncos practice on Monday, November 13.

The WHL and the Broncos are committed to holding players and staff to the highest standards of conduct both on and off the ice.

There will be no additional comment at this time.

Praught is alleged to have swung his stick at defenseman Josh Fluker in a violent rage. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic reports that he has witnessed video of the alleged incident and that it's pretty damning.

From Wheeler:

In a video of the incident, reviewed by The Athletic, Praught can be seen skating across the ice at Swift Current’s Innovation Credit Union iPlex while shouting and swearing at 17-year-old defenseman Josh Fluker during a drill. As he approaches Fluker, he confronts him at the team’s bench and swings his stick down, breaking Fluker’s stick.

- Scott Wheeler

The WHL states that it is currently investigating the incident further and has no further comment at this time.

You may recall that this is the second time this season that the WHL has been forced to suspend a coach for breaching its Code of Conduct. Longtime WHL and former NHL coach Kevin Constantine was suspended following an investigation that uncovered he had used "derogatory comments of a discriminatory nature" against a player back in September.

Praught was in his third season as head coach of the Broncos and also served as an assistant coach for Team Canada's U-17 team last year. Broncos assistant coach Taras McEwen will assume head coaching duties until a further decision is made on Praught's future with the team.