WINNIPEG — The penalties have been handed down to members of the Lake Manitoba Eagles hockey team for an incident in which players attacked officials, including pummelling a linesman as he lay on the ice.
Three players will be suspended; one who shoved an official got six weeks, one who shot a puck at a referee got two months, while a 14-year-old girl who punched one referee in the head and another in the groin will be suspended for a year.
One of the linesmen at the bantam league game, Scott Miskiewicz, says the punishment amounts to a slap on the wrist.
Doug Zeller, chief referee of the Interlake Minor Hockey Association, says seven of his officials — including himself — have said they will refuse to referee at games involving the Lake Manitoba Eagles.
Margaret Swan, an Eagles fan and regular at their games, has said the players’ behaviour was unacceptable but was provoked by the officials.
Swan says throughout the game, the referees and linesmen pushed the players from the Dog Creek First Nation and made racial comments.
Last month’s between the Eagles and the Stonewall Blues was called by officials with 11 minutes remaining in the third period.
Witnesses say the violence broke out while players were being escorted to the penalty box after a brawl.
"It doesn’t show a good, strong message that they’re protecting the officials," Miskiewicz said of Tuesday’s ruling by Hockey Manitoba officials. "They’re just worried about getting it off of the media."
"I don’t think it’s harsh enough," agreed Zeller.
Hockey Manitoba officials could not be reached for comment.
(Global Winnipeg)