WHL forward suspended 25 games for hit that sends opponent to hospital

Yesterday, the WHL announced it has suspended 19 year old Victoria Royals forward Alex Edwards for a whopping 25 games after a reckless hit from behind on Dexter Whittle of the Everett Silvertips.

Here's the hit in question:

And here's the fallout immediately afterward:

The hit sent Whittle to the hospital and the team announced that he will make a full recovery, but will be out of the lineup indefinitely with no timetable for his return. 

Our thoughts are with ­Dexter and his family during this ­difficult time,” the Silvertips said in a statement, per Victoria's Times Colonist newspaper.

Incidentally, this is not Edwards' first suspension in the WHL. Just last season he served two suspensions and the WHL mentioned that Edwards' prior suspensions factored into the this judgement.

“In addition to the severity of Edwards’ actions, other key factors considered in the decision include the severe injury to the opponent on the play and the fact Edwards is a repeat offender,” the WHL said in a statement.

The Royals will not appeal the suspension.