Monday, March 21, 2005 | 8:58 a.m.
Former Wranglers forward Billy Tibbetts was released by the Idaho Steelheads on Saturday, a day after he was suspended indefinitely by the ECHL for attempting to attack a referee.
On Thursday at Louisiana, Tibbetts was ejected for not having his fight strap tied following a first-period fight with the IceGators' Chris Thompson.
According to newspaper reports, Tibbetts then went after referee Chris Ciamaga, earning another game misconduct and a gross misconduct as three Idaho teammates restrained him. It was unclear whether he made physical contact with Ciamaga.
Tibbetts, a former NHL player, played for the Wranglers for two months this season, earning five points and 132 penalty minutes in 13 games. In his first game as a Wrangler, he cross-checked Bakersfield forward Todd Alexander to the face, landing Alexander a concussion and Tibbetts an eight-game suspension.
In 15 games with Idaho, he had 14 points and 132 more penalty minutes.
He will remain suspended while the ECHL completes an investigation of his actions.
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