Stars captain Derian Hatcher was suspended by the NHL for four pre- season games and fined $1,000 for cross checking St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger near the end of Monday's game with the Blues.

Hatcher was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure at 19:34 of the third period after he punched Pronger from behind, then cross- checked him on his knees as he tried to regain his balance.

Hatcher, who sat out Tuesday's game with Nashville, already has served one game of the suspension. He will miss the Stars' pre-season games against Nashville on Friday, Tampa Bay on Saturday and Phoenix on Wednesday. Hatcher could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

In keeping with their tough stance on reducing head injuries, league officials reviewed the incident, then decided on the suspension after a conference call Wednesday with Hatcher, Stars general manager Bob Gainey and Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior vice president and director of hockey operations. The $1,000 fine, which is the maximum permitted under the collective bargaining agreement, will be distributed to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

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Bill Nichols / Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News, Hatcher suspended four games., The Dallas Morning News, 09-24-1998, pp 3B.