Spencer Asuchak, a 19-year-old forward for the Prince George Cougars, has been handed an eight-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
The Western Hockey League, in cooperation with the Canadian Hockey League and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, announced the suspension on Monday afternoon. Asuchak has already served three games and will be eligible to return to the Cougars' lineup Feb. 8 when the team plays a road game in Edmonton.
The substance -- methylhexaneamine -- was found in a Dec. 17 urine sample provided by Asuchak. All players in the CHL submit to random drug tests.
Methylhexaneamine is a stimulant. It is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list, which is recognized by the CHL.
Asuchak told The Citizen he had been taking two supplements -- Jack3d and Razor 8. Both were in powder form, and he mixed them with water prior to workout sessions to give himself an energy boost. He said he used Jack3d in the summer and Razor 8 in December.
Asuchak, a Kamloops product who has 15 goals and 24 points in 42 games with the Cougars this season, said he's "pretty upset" about the situation.
"I'll get through it," he added. "It happens -- you make mistakes and learn from them."
A urine sample typically takes four to six weeks to process. Asuchak knew he'd probably test positive for methylhexaneamine after two Ontario Hockey League players -- Alex Aleardi of the Plymouth Whalers and Ryan O'Connor of the Saginaw Spirit -- tested positive for it in mid-January and were suspended for eight games.
Asuchak quickly informed Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson he had been using supplements containing methylhexaneamine, so the Cougars were prepared for the likelihood of a positive test result. The Cougars then notified the WHL, and were given the result last Wednesday, the same day the club began a three-game road trip in Kelowna.
Thompson gives Asuchak credit for dealing with the situation in a mature manner. Thompson pointed out that the supplements Asuchak was taking are readily available.
"It's a thing you can go and buy at GNC or Walmart," Thompson said. "It's certainly nothing illegal."
Thompson said the Cougars do try to monitor what their players are putting into their systems.
"We can't tell everything that they take, but we've had our education with it," he said. "There are some lists. You've got to be very careful what you take. This [stimulant] can be known by [multiple names] so it's pretty difficult to figure it out. If you are taking something, you've got to get onto the WADA website and see if it's on there. I think they kind of update their list every January, so when we started this [drug testing] program [two years ago] it wasn't on the list."
On Monday, the CHL issued a statement on the Asuchak suspension.
"In reviewing this matter, we are completely satisfied that the player used a supplement which had been purchased over the counter at a retail outlet and had no knowledge that it contained a prohibited stimulant under our national CHL Anti-Doping Policy," said Ron Robison, CHL vice president and WHL commissioner. "The Canadian Hockey League is fully committed to the ongoing education for all CHL players, all of whom participate in the CHL Anti-Doping program, and we will continue to work with the CCES to support the health and welfare of all of our players."
Asuchak is the first Cougars player to be suspended for using a banned substance.
With Asuchak unavailable for duty against the Rockets, Vancouver Giants and Chilliwack Bruins last week -- and with forward Brett Connolly (knee) sidelined -- Cougars head coach Dean Clark had to do some lineup shuffling. Most notably, he had blueliners Josh Smith and Shane Pilling play some minutes at forward. Clark said having Asuchak out for five more games will be tough.
"It affects us because, first of all, he's 19 and we don't have a lot of 19-year-olds on our team," Clark said. "Secondly, he's been playing good. He's a force and he skates well for us."
The Cougars will host the Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday. Asuchak will also miss weekend road games against the Kelowna Rockets and Everett Silvertips and a Feb. 4-5 home doubleheader against the Rockets.
