Blue Jackets' Peca suspended for contact with official

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Columbus Blue Jackets center Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely by the National Hockey League for making contact with an official, the NHL and his team said on Saturday.

The veteran player was automatically suspended according to the league rule for physical abuse of officials, the NHL said.

Peca was assessed a game misconduct penalty and ejected in the second period of Friday's 5-4 season-opening victory at Dallas. The ejection came after Peca bumped referee Greg Kimmerly during an argument, the Columbus Dispatch reported on its website (www.dispatch.com).

He has appealed the suspension, the NHL said, but remains suspended until a hearing next week.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)