The National Hockey League Players' Association's appeal to a neutral discipline arbitrator for suspended Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman will be heard on Thursday and Friday, the association announced on Twitter.

The NHLPA tweet was sent out on Tuesday night and the appeal will take place in New York City with arbitrator James Oldham.

The appeal was requested by the NHLPA after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Wideman's 20-game suspension last week for cross-checking a linesman on Jan. 27.

Wideman knocked down linesman Don Henderson during the second period of the Flames' game against Nashville. Wideman was checked hard into the boards by Predators winger Miikka Salomaki. Wideman banged his stick on the ice, then knocked down Henderson in front of the Nashville bench. Wideman said he was in pain and was just trying to get off the ice, adding that he couldn't avoid Henderson.

The suspension is the second-longest in NHL history for abusing an official.