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Ice hockey referee hit by fan during match
- Thread starter James
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I am appalled by the events that transpired in Belfast on Saturday evening and the subsequent attempts to brush the matter under the carpet by certain league officials.
The incident occurred at the end of the second period of the Giants game v Blaze on Saturday and a couple of Coventry players were also allegedly assaulted by one or more Giants fans leaning over the railings above the tunnel used by the away team and on-ice officials to exit the ice.
While the game is in progress, including period breaks, no "fan" should be able to get anywhere near players or officials, never mind within striking distance. The responsibility is with the home club and ultimately the league (through sanctions against any offending club) to provide a safe environment for these guys to work in. I don't care what anyone thinks of certain players or referees - there is absolutely no justification for an assault.
I believe the person responsible was identified and was escorted from the building but my understanding is that said person has received a one game ban - what sort of message does this send out ? That response is about as sickening as you can get, especially when it is coupled with a request from within the league to not report the matter to the police. I don't blame Mike Hicks for one moment in taking the action that he has - if the league actually grew a pair and dealt with the matter properly then perhaps he wouldn't have felt the need to go to the authorities.
Shame on you EIHL.
The incident occurred at the end of the second period of the Giants game v Blaze on Saturday and a couple of Coventry players were also allegedly assaulted by one or more Giants fans leaning over the railings above the tunnel used by the away team and on-ice officials to exit the ice.
While the game is in progress, including period breaks, no "fan" should be able to get anywhere near players or officials, never mind within striking distance. The responsibility is with the home club and ultimately the league (through sanctions against any offending club) to provide a safe environment for these guys to work in. I don't care what anyone thinks of certain players or referees - there is absolutely no justification for an assault.
I believe the person responsible was identified and was escorted from the building but my understanding is that said person has received a one game ban - what sort of message does this send out ? That response is about as sickening as you can get, especially when it is coupled with a request from within the league to not report the matter to the police. I don't blame Mike Hicks for one moment in taking the action that he has - if the league actually grew a pair and dealt with the matter properly then perhaps he wouldn't have felt the need to go to the authorities.
Shame on you EIHL.
This is a shame, I'm proud of the fact that ice hockey fans are nothing like football fans and that everyone is able to get on with everyone, no matter what logo is upon there chest. So this is very disapointed by this, especially as the rink has nothing to do when it happens, let alone the EIHL. If we want to end up like football, and become a non family sport full of danger not only on the ice but off then this is the right way to go. I was going to head out to the O again this season, but the attitude from Belfast fans and players has made me think twice. I used to really enjoy the giants coming to down and going to Belfast, but this year has really made me think alot less of them. The EIHL should sort this out and make a point to cut it out now, rather than us hearing second hand through the papers.
EIHL sort it out.
And shame on you Giants fans.
McMorrow at the players photos, Rough fans at the O.
You're nothing but an embarresment to this sport that is so close to my heart now.
EIHL sort it out.
And shame on you Giants fans.
McMorrow at the players photos, Rough fans at the O.
You're nothing but an embarresment to this sport that is so close to my heart now.
How dare you generaise so much.What kind of comment is that about football fans?All grounds that I have been to apart from a derby v the Jacks are safe for families and I would take my 2 girls which ofcourse I would never do if football fans were so bad.
Shame on you Giants fans?This seems so far to be an isolated incident so why have a pop at all their fans?
Your post a bit harsh all round I feel.
Shame on you Giants fans?This seems so far to be an isolated incident so why have a pop at all their fans?
Your post a bit harsh all round I feel.
Yeah I'm calm now. I take things a little to heart. No problem though. Just don't like it when things get tainted. I just dont feel that we should over look abuse like that with a one game ban.Sure I feel like hitting people for there decisions but I'd never do it and I'm sure that goes for almost everyone here.
Do the crime serve the time is my view.
Do the crime serve the time is my view.
Dan, takes a fair set to stand up and admit you made a mistake kudos for that.
If you read KOTG youll see the huge majority of Giants fans are disgusted both by the action, and 2ndly and IMO just as importantly, the lack of noise coming from G.org regarding saying this incident is disgusting we dont condone it etc etc etc. However this is the same G.org who seen a panthers fan attack our mascot viciously and rather than chucking him out, took him to a executive box where he could eat drink and be merry on giants cash.
Its not the first time its happened in Belfast unfortunately, final year of the ISL after **that** panthers game, one of our "fans" attacked Scott Allison, he was promptly escorted from the arena and banned for eternity.
If you read KOTG youll see the huge majority of Giants fans are disgusted both by the action, and 2ndly and IMO just as importantly, the lack of noise coming from G.org regarding saying this incident is disgusting we dont condone it etc etc etc. However this is the same G.org who seen a panthers fan attack our mascot viciously and rather than chucking him out, took him to a executive box where he could eat drink and be merry on giants cash.
Its not the first time its happened in Belfast unfortunately, final year of the ISL after **that** panthers game, one of our "fans" attacked Scott Allison, he was promptly escorted from the arena and banned for eternity.
It is something that happens from time to time, unfortunately and you will never truely get rid of it however good the reputation of the fans. It even happens in the NHL, I remember Domi fighting a fan in the Penalty box before now. It's a fact of life that sport and drink usually go together and on the odd occasion tempers will spill over and people do stupid things. Though that doesn't excuse it, people need to realise that if they are stupid then they will face the concequences. Luckily we follow a sport where these type of incidents are rare. The difference here is, as Finny said, that the EIHL seemingly do not want to acknowledge anything has hapenned and if the 1 game ban is true then Belfast management should feel ashamed of themselves.
I'm not condoning what hapenned, no-one should be subjected to physical abuse or intimidation but sadly it will happen from time to time in any sport and it's down to the team responsible and the league to come down hard on it. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to have hapenned here.
As you mentioned it Finny don't refs / players get hit by coins every so often in football? Also isn't being forced to ref a Man U game abuse of a kind?
I'm not condoning what hapenned, no-one should be subjected to physical abuse or intimidation but sadly it will happen from time to time in any sport and it's down to the team responsible and the league to come down hard on it. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to have hapenned here.
As you mentioned it Finny don't refs / players get hit by coins every so often in football? Also isn't being forced to ref a Man U game abuse of a kind?