McIlrath was assessed a five-minute major for fighting and handed an “aggressor” game misconduct for his actions in the third period of Hershey’s 4-2 win over the Belleville Senators on February 19. The league reviewed the play and determined it was worthy of a two-game suspension.

The play in question occurred with the Bears up 4-1 with 8:11 remaining in the third period. After Senators forward Brennan Saulnier appeared to run Joe Snively into the boards, McIlrath stepped up and challenged Saulnier to a fight.

Saulnier was either unwilling to fight or just unable to get his gloves off before being knocked out with one punch from McIlrath.

Zack Ostapchuk scored a power-play goal for Belleville on the ensuing major penalty that Ivan Miroshnichenko served for McIlrath. Goaltender Clay Stevenson and the rest of the Bears held on for the rest of the penalty kill though.