Rodrigo Abols, who is playing for Latvia at the IIHF World Championship, was shocked after he realized he had hit an official in the face, and now fears punishment
While the NHL continues the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, many players from teams that didn't make the postseason, or who were eliminated early are currently taking part in the 2024 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic. An incident during a game between Latvia and Poland today could mean one of those players will receive punishment for the Federation.
At one point in the game, which Poland won in overtime 5-4, things were getting heated and a scrum had broken out. Latvia's Rodrigo Abols was getting up off the ice when he decided to give one of his opponents a quick jab to the face. Abols then quickly realized that it wasn't an opponent that he had hit, it was a linesman. He started apologizing right away.
Abols is a very lucky guy. He said his apology seemed to be accepted as there was no call on the play. He is, however, worried about punishment from the IIHF.
I can't help but think that had this happened in the NHL, it would have been called regardless of how many times the player apologized. I wouldn't be at all surprised with supplemental discipline from the league, either. Perhaps the international officials are a bit more understanding.
