SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Tampa Bay farmhand Steve Downie was suspended for 20 games by the American Hockey League on Thursday for slashing an official with his stick late in a Feb. 28 game for the Norfolk Admirals.

The 21-year-old Downie, suspended 20 games by the NHL in 2007 while with Philadelphia for a hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond, was assessed a game misconduct and suspended indefinitely by the league after the slash with 12 seconds left against Hershey.

Downie, traded to the Lightning in November, has already served three games of the suspension. In 22 games for Norfolk, he has eight goals, 17 assists and 107 penalty minutes. In 29 games for Tampa Bay, he has 3 goals, 3 assists and 65 penalty minutes. He also played six games for the Flyers, and four for the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms.