Hockey Official Assaulted
 

I read this article in another officiating forum. The description of the incident in the article is not well written but it sounds like the hockey official got the short end of the stick.

Slugged by 'punk' | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

MTD, Sr.

Never Touch The Players, Or Maybe Not ???
 

Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.: Not a great post to start the New Year. I would have much rather read a post about one of your beloved Ohio football teams. We keep reminding ourselves, and stressing to newbies, to never touch the players, now we know why. There must either be a fine line, or maybe it's a gray area, where beyond the line, or in the gray area, officials are allowed to defend themselves, especially when dealing with a player who is larger than the official, is wearing sharp skates, protective gear, including a helmet and visor, and is holding a large stick in their hand. Difficult situation.

Happy New Year.

It's been a tough year for the league.

The linesman is barred from all leagues in Canada for two years, while the player is only suspended 6 games from that league.

To paraphrase a former esteemed member - someone in management needs to grow a set.

Maybe this had something to do with the linesman's (Krajewski) reaction:

"Krajewski said his son, Shane, was punched in the back of the head by the same player just seconds before. "

Hockey Official Assaulted
 

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.

Oh by all means, allow some adrenaline-hyped teenager twice your size to beat on you.

What a crock.

That league, as another poster implied, needs to grow a pair.

I for one can see a wrongful dismissal legal case in the making....?