AHL suspends goalie Alex Lyon for flipping off camera
(Photo Credit: @Chicago_Wolves/ Twitter)

It’s not a good idea to flip off the camera when you play for a professional sports team.

The AHL has suspended Chicago Wolves’ goalie Alex Lyon two games for his actions following Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals.

The Wolves took down the Springfield Thunderbirds in five games to capture their fifth Calder Cup in franchise history. Goalie Alex Lyon stopped all 28 shots he faced for his second shutout of the Finals.

The Wolves won four straight games against the Thunderbirds after losing Game 1 in overtime. Here’s the exhilarating moment the Wolves became AHL champs, from the perspective of the goalie Lyon:

While the initial celebration appeared harmless, it took an R-rated turn minutes later. Lyon was seen flipping off the camera during the celebration pictures. The 29-year-old netminder did the “double bird”, which is extending the middle finger with both hands.

Alex Lyon double bird

Lyon may have been able to get away with the gesture if there weren’t cameras, but unfortunately for him the game was being streamed on AHLTV. The cameras kept rolling throughout the celebration, and Lyon’s “double bird” was blatantly obvious.

The AHL didn’t like the double bird from Lyon and gave him a two-game suspension the following morning. With the 2021-22 AHL season already wrapped up, Lyon will miss the first two games of the 2022-23 season.

While the AHL didn’t like the celebration, the Chicago Wolves didn’t seem to mind. Chicago’s front office posed for a hilarious “double bird” photo after news of Lyon’s celebration came down:

Chicago Wolves middle finger

Lyon had every reason to celebrate after his impressive postseason for the Wolves. The Minnesota native posted a 9-3 record with a .923 save percentage and 2.03 GAA during his team’s Calder Cup run.

While players have the right to celebrate, we understand why the AHL suspended Lyon. Many young hockey fans watch the AHL and the league doesn’t want to give the impression that flipping off the camera is an acceptable hockey celebration.

Lyon has appeared in 24 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. The American goalie has posted a 7-7-3 record in the NHL with a .895 save percentage and 3.18 GAA.

While Lyon hasn’t been able to stick at the NHL level, he’s at least provided quality entertainment. In one of his starts for Carolina this season, Lyon was completely unbothered by Panthers’ forward Frank Vatrano getting right up in his face.

Lyon isn’t likely to lose sleep over the suspension considering he’s already won the Calder Cup trophy. But his two-game ban serves as a potential warning for any hockey players thinking of flipping off the camera next time they hit the ice.