Date
May 26, 2023
Game
Kings vs Black Bulls
Details
In the final seconds of a 3-3 tied game, a Black Bull player goes on a breakaway. An aggressive, back-checking Kings player manages to catch-up and attempts to stick-lift the Black Bulls player from behind, inadvertently hooking them and sending them sliding hard into the boards. A Black Bulls player skates up to the Kings player and lands a surprise punch to their face. Another Kings player sees this and shoves the Black Bulls player onto the ice.
It should be noted, after receiving the punch to the face, the Kings player held back his own teammate, who issued the shove, from retaliating further. The Kings captain also directed their player, who issued the initial hook, to the dressing room. Both actions were noted and commendable.
The initial call on the ice is hooking, with a penalty-shot awarded. Both players in the aftermath scuffle were issued misconducts and ejected.
Result
A Kings player was issued a 1-game suspension as, given the late timing and high possibility of injury, the play was not deemed indicative of the ARL’s style of social hockey.
The Black Bulls player was issued a 1-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.
A Kings player was issued a 1-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.