Junior hockey player receives lifetime ban at USPHL after punching referee in the face

Junior hockey player receives lifetime ban at USPHL after punching referee in the face

Paul Halloran at USPHL

A junior hockey player has been handed over a lifetime ban after things escalated during the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) game on Sunday. The player, Paul Halloran of the USPHL’s South Shore Kings, punched a referee in the face during the game, resulting in strict and necessary action to be taken against him.

The incident took place during the first period of the Kings’ game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. Halloran, 20, was sent to the penalty box by the referee but the former was clearly not happy about the decision. As a result, he took his frustrations out by punching the ref.

Following this, the other match officials restored order and the referee who was punched was helped back onto his skates, but the damage had already been done. Soon after the incident occurred in the States, the video of the same went viral like crazy on social media.

Here is the full clipping doing rounds on internet: 

https://twitter.com/tarpsoffmclovin/status/1495465484128501763

USPHL commissioner issues official statement

Responding to this unfortunate incident, the commissioner for the USPHL, Bob Turow immediately released a statement saying, “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. The incident is currently being investigated by local authorities and as such the USPHL will have no further comment at this time.”

Notably, regardless of how the incident escalated and what was said between the player and the referee, it’s safe to say that no one can sucker-punch an official under any circumstances.

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