Texas teen ice hockey player suspended for vicious stick attack on rival (VIDEO)
A Texas high school club ice hockey player has been suspended “indefinitely” after a vicious stick attack on a rival during a game at the weekend.
The shocking incident occurred during the clash between the Arlington/Midlothian Attack and the Grapevine/Colleyville Ice Hockey Association, who were meeting in the private AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League.
Footage shows the Grapevine/Colleyville player getting up following a collision behind the goal, before lashing out with his stick at his grounded rival, first connecting to his lower back and the second time appearing to narrowly miss his head.
Officials then race over to restrain the player from inflicting further strikes on his downed opponent.
Nasty stick swinging attack at a high school hockey game just outside of Dallas.Both teams play in the Metroplex High School Hockey league sponsored by the Dallas Stars.The player swinging the stick has been suspended indefinitely. The kid getting attacked is fine. pic.twitter.com/W86zDjdz4L
— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) December 12, 2018
The teen was immediately handed a match penalty and removed from the game, and was later slapped with an “indefinite” suspension, pending a disciplinary hearing in January.
The league is sponsored by the Dallas Stars and is backed by the Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA), which is an affiliate of USA Hockey.
TAHA vice president Lucas Reid told WFAA that the scenes were “the worst thing that I’ve seen on video.”
His colleague Reggie Hall, TAHA president, said: “We are disturbed by the actions seen on the video from this weekend’s high school game and have taken immediate steps to suspend the offending player indefinitely pending a disciplinary hearing in January.”
“These actions are not part of our game and have no place in our sport. Such acts are extremely rare and not representative of the players and families that participate in the thousands of games we oversee each and every season."
Responding to the footage online, some social media users branded the attack “criminal.”
That’s a lifetime ban from the game.
— The Original Burnsie (@BurnsieOriginal) December 13, 2018
This is where he should face criminal charges. His actions are outside of the game of hockey.
— Rick (@askrickdotcom) December 12, 2018
Refereed many hockey games. I've witnessed a few over the top violent incidents. This is particularly troubling to me when you see this player swinging a second time. It's no longer reactionary. The player is bordering rage. What led up to this? He also needs professional help.
— J. Brent Frizzell 🇨🇦 (@BrentFrizzell) December 13, 2018
The suspended player has not been named due to his status as a minor, WFAA reports.
