Hockey Official Assaulted

[CMHCoachNRef]

Mark,
I think you misread the article. The linesman's name was being withheld. The assistant coach was quoted that HIS son -- not the linesman's son -- was punched by the player.

While I can see the league's position on referee conduct in general -- being the "rock" of the program, etc. -- I cannot understand how you can justify the massive difference in penalty lengths given the circumstances. Giving the linesman a lifetime ban (the league indicated that they would likely NEVER use the linesman again) while giving the instigator a six game penalty (likely less than a couple weeks) seems to be quite off the mark given the circumstances.

It sounds like an out-of-control 15 year old got away with a lot. At this point, if I were the linesman, I would be filing my own assault charges. Perhaps receiving a lost wages settlement from the player's family might alter the player's behavior in the future.

Of course, since I was not there, I am only able to draw conditional conclusions based on the accounts given.