DOPS: The weekend of the 15th and 16th March 2025

Bristol Pitbulls #77 Bayley Harewood

Rule 39- Abuse of official – Game misconduct

The investigation into the incident at 60.00 is still ongoing.

The player is suspended until the investigation is complete.

Berkshire Bees #33 Ralfs Circenis  

The penalties assessed at 14.54 a 5-minute Major + Game Misconduct Rule 59 Cross Checking and a 5-minute Major + Game Misconduct Rule 46 Fighting are correct.

An Altercation occurred after a boarding in the Romford Defending zone Berkshire #33 was struck from behind dislodging his helmet and he retaliated with a cross check, the recipient of the cross check fell and #33 proceeded to cross check the player again, at this time he was then repeatedly punched by Romford player #14 including when he was on the ice and defenceless, he wrestled #14 to the ice when the the linesmen intervened, both players being on the ice with #33 throwing punches to #14 who was under him, both players continued to fight on the ice, despite having linesmen involved and being instructed to stop.

For these actions #33 was assessed

Cross checking

59.3. MAJOR PENALTY AND GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY

The Referee, at their discretion, may assess a Major Penalty and an automatic Game Misconduct Penalty if, in their judgment, the Player recklessly endangers their opponent by a “cross-checking” and the player would not be sufficiently sanctioned by imposing a Minor Penalty. Such assessment of reckless endangerment shall be based on the severity of the infraction, severity of the contact, the degree of violence and the general reprehensibility involved.

The player Receives 5 penalty points on their record and as a tier 1 offence the player is suspended for 2 games

In Addition, the player was assessed a 5 + Game Misconduct penalty for fighting

46.1. FIGHTING / FIGHTER – WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT AND CONTINUING TO FIGHT

While Fighting is tolerated in the IHUK rule 46 that is for equal and willing combatants, however, ”Fighting” is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA.

Players who willingly participate in a “brawl / fight”, so-called “willing combatants”, shall be penalized accordingly by the Referee(s) and may be ejected from the game. Further Supplementary Discipline may be imposed.

A “fight” shall be deemed to have occurred when at least one (1) Player punches or attempts to punch an opponent repeatedly or when two (2) Player’s wrestle in such a manner as to make it difficult for the Linespersons to intervene and separate the combatants.

Any Player who persists in continuing or attempting to continue a “fight or altercation” after they have been ordered by the Referee to stop, or who resists a Linesperson in the discharge of their duties shall, at the discretion of the Referee, incur at least a Major Penalty (“Fighting”) plus an automatic Game Misconduct Penalty (5’+GMP) in addition to any additional penalties imposed.

The player Receives 5 penalty points on their record and as a tier 1 offence the player is suspended for 2 games

As the player has reached 10 personal penalty points, the player is suspended for 1 game under the totting up procedure

Total Games suspended is 5 Games.

Romford Raiders #14 Jack Cooper

The penalty assessed at 14.54 a 5-minute Major Rule 46 Fighting is incorrect

An Altercation occurred after a boarding in the Romford Defending zone and Romford #14 skated across the ice and intervened by repeatedly punching Berkshire #33 including when #33 was defenceless on the ice, #33 then wrestled #14 to the ice, when the linesmen intervened, both players being on the ice with #33 throwing punches to #14 who was under him, both players continued to fight on the ice, despite having linesmen involved and being instructed to stop.

For these actions he is assessed

46.7. THIRD PLAYER IN

A Game Misconduct Penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any Player who is the first to intervene (“third Player in”) in an altercation already in progress,

The player Receives 4 penalty points on their record and as a tier 1 offence the player is suspended for 1 game

In Addition, the player is assessed a 2 + 2 + 5 + Game Misconduct penalty for fighting – Instigator & Aggressor

46.3. INSTIGATOR / INITIATOR

An “Instigator / Initiator” of an “altercation” shall be a Player who by their actions or demeanour demonstrates any/some of the following criteria: distance travelled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game

46.4. AGGRESSOR

The “Aggressor” in an altercation shall be the Player who continues to throw punches in an attempt to inflict punishment on their opponent who is in a defenceless position or who is an “unwilling combatant”.

A Player who is deemed to be both the “Aggressor” and the “Instigator / Initiator” of an altercation shall be assessed a Minor Penalty (“Aggressor”) plus a Minor Penalty (“Instigator / Initiator”) plus a Major Penalty (“Fighting”) and an automatic Game Misconduct Penalty (2’+2’+5’+GMP).

The player Receives 5 penalty points on their record and as a tier 1 offence the player is suspended for 2 games

As the player has reached 10 personal penalty points, the player is suspended for 1 game under the totting up procedure

Total Games suspended is 4 Games