Hockey Player Receives Lengthy Suspension For Brutally Kicking Opponent During Post-Game Handshakes
Professional hockey player Petr Kodytek playing over in Europe has received a nice long seven-game suspension for kicking his opponent during handshakes.
Liiga has handed Helsinki IFK forward Petr Kodytek a seven-game suspension regarding an incident with Porin Assat forward Peter Tiivola in the post-game handshake line.
He was given a total of 50 PIM for his actions.
Kod�tek, 26, has scored 24 (3+21) points in 35 games this season and will now be out of action until January 17.
The disciplinary action came after Petr Kodytek kicked Peter Tiivola and made an obscene gesture toward the Porin bench. In addition to the suspension, Kodytek picked up a total of 50 penalty minutes for his actions during the altercation.
Kodytek, 26, has recorded 24 points (3 goals, 21 assists) in 35 games this season but will now be out until January 17. It is a big blow to Helsinki IFK during a crucial stretch of the season.
Liiga underlined that the very decision itself is expressive of the league's beliefs in sportsmanship and discipline at all moments of the hockey game.
As much as the suspension is a clear punishment for Kodytek's unsportsmanlike act, it also reinforces the importance of professionalism by players both on and off the ice.
Regardless of if injuries come about from actions like these, a kicking act in hockey where players use dangerously sharp skates is completely unacceptable, and everyone is hopeful that Kodytek has learned a valuable lesson from this.
