Junior Hockey Player Banned for Life after Punching Ref

A Massachusetts junior hockey player has received a lifetime ban from the United States Premier Hockey League after he punched a referee in the face.

Video from the incident shows the Massachusetts-based South Shore Kings player shoving a referee after the official inadvertently disrupted the player bringing the puck along the far boards. The player then shoved the ref, who followed up by assessing a penalty to the South Shore Kings’ player. As a result, the player sucker-punched the referee.

The other referees jumped in to pull the player off the ice and restore order. The referee who was hit promptly jumped back onto his skates, appearing to not be seriously injured.

The action occurred during a game between the host South Shore Kings and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (PA) Knights. According to a report from PennLive.com, Paul Halloran, 20, was the player who threw the punch.

Safe to say, I don’t think he liked what the ref said to him 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/zJUe61SMUT

— Justin (McLovin) (@tarpsoffmclovin) February 20, 2022

The league said the player’s actions are “unacceptable.”

“The USPHL has zero-tolerance for any player striking any official, at any time,” Commissioner Bob Turow said in a statement. “The player in question’s actions have led to a lifetime ban.”

Statement From USPHL Commissioner.
“The action taken today by a USPHL player is completely unacceptable in the USPHL. The USPHL has zero tolerance for any player striking any official, at any time. The player in question’s actions have led to a lifetime ban.
Continued: pic.twitter.com/FFhG4uYWMl

— USPHL (@USPHL) February 20, 2022

Local police are aware of the video and the investigation is ongoing.

Junior hockey is typically played after high school but before college.

To read the full story from PennLive.com about the tussle between the junior hockey player and the referee, click here.