Junior hockey player gets a LIFETIME ban from league for sucker punching an official to the ice

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Junior hockey player gets a LIFETIME ban from league for sucker punching an official to the ice: Aspiring pro is being investigated by police after incident in Massachusetts

  • A junior hockey player has been given a lifetime ban by the United States Premier Hockey League after sucker punching an official while disputing a call
  • The incident took place Sunday in Massachusetts and cops are investigating, according to a statement by the USPHL, which didn’t identify the player
  • A video of the altercation surfaced on social media, showing a player for what appears to be the South Shore Kings dropping a ref with a single sucker punch
  • One witness has since confirmed to DailyMail.com that the guilty player was a member of the South Shore Kings, but did not identify him by name
  • Neither South Shore Kings head coach Dave O’Donnell nor Tyler Holske responded to DailyMail.com’s request to confirm the identity of the player 

  • The USPHL gives players between 17 and 20 a chance to either impress an NHL club in hopes of being drafted, or can help players secure NCAA scholarships

By Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:


A junior hockey player has been given a lifetime ban by the United States Premier Hockey League after sucker punching an official while disputing a call during Sunday’s game in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The league did not identify the player or his team in its statement, but did announce the punishment, adding that the incident is being investigated by local authorities. A spokesperson for the USPHL told DailyMail.com that league commissioner Bob Turow was traveling on Monday, but would be made available when he was off his flight.

A video of the altercation has surfaced on social media, showing a player for what appears to be the South Shore Kings dropping a linesman with a single sucker punch. The Kings were scheduled to host the visiting Wilkes-Barre Scranton (Pennsylvania) Knights on Sunday in Foxborough.

One witness has since confirmed to DailyMail.com that the guilty player was a member of the South Shore Kings, but did not identify him by name.  

The contact appeared to be accidental, or at least it did at first. But the Kings player, who may have been pushed into the ref, clearly gave the official an extra shove, resulting in an immediate penalty

The 20-second clip shows the Kings’ No. 19 getting tangled up with an official along the boards. The contact appeared to be accidental, or at least it did at first. But the Kings player, who may have been pushed into the ref, clearly gave the official an extra shove, resulting in an immediate penalty

It's unclear if the player was being directed to the penalty box or if he was kicked out of the game entirely, but he responded by skating up to the official and delivering an unprovoked right hook (pictured)

It’s unclear if the player was being directed to the penalty box or if he was kicked out of the game entirely, but he responded by skating up to the official and delivering an unprovoked right hook (pictured)

The ref fell, but did get back up as his fellow officials herded the offending player off the ice

The official immediately dropped to the ice

The ref fell, but did get back up as his fellow officials herded the offending player off the ice

The guilty player is seen being herded off the ice by one of the other officials on Sunday. The linesman who was knocked down is seen in the background raising his arms in the air

The guilty player is seen being herded off the ice by one of the other officials on Sunday. The linesman who was knocked down is seen in the background raising his arms in the air 

The 20-second clip shows the Kings’ No. 19 getting tangled up with an official along the boards.

The contact appeared to be accidental, or at least it did at first. But the Kings player, who may have been pushed into the ref, clearly gave the official an extra shove, resulting in an immediate penalty.

It’s unclear if the player was being directed to the penalty box or if he was kicked out of the game entirely, but he responded by skating up to the official and delivering an unprovoked right hook.

The referee fell instantly, but did get back up as his fellow officials herded the offending player off the ice.

Turow’s statement did not give any indication about the player’s identity.

‘The action taken today by a USPHL player is completely unacceptable in the USPHL,’ Turow said. 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. The incident is currently being investigated by local authorities and as such the USPHL will have no further comments at this time.’

Neither South Shore Kings head coach Dave O’Donnell nor Tyler Holske responded to DailyMail.com’s request to confirm the identity of the player.

Police spokespeople in Foxborough, Massachusetts were unavailable due to the federal holiday on Monday. DailyMail.com has also reached out via email to the department chief, Michael Grace, and his deputy, Richard Noonan.

Junior hockey leagues are not affiliated with the NHL, but rather exist as an alternative to collegiate hockey, or as an alternative path to NCAA hockey programs. Although more prestigious junior leagues exist in Canada, such as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the USPHL has produced NHL players, such as Jack Eichel, who played for the Junior Bruins before accepting a scholarship to Boston University and later being drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Another player, Jimmy Vesey, played for the Kings before playing at Harvard, winning the NCAA’s Hobie Baker at Harvard a year after Eichel, and then going on to a successful NHL career of his own.

Most of the players on the South Shore Kings are come from the US — primarily Rhode Island and Massachusetts — and are between 17- and 20-years-old.