A high school hockey player in Texas has been banned by USA Hockey indefinitely after a violent incident during a game in the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League. The AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League is sponsored by the Dallas Stars of the NHL and sanctioned by the Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA) which is an affiliate of USA Hockey.
The player will have a disciplinary hearing in January to determine the full extent of his punishment from The Texas Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey.
All of the information we know about the incident can be seen below.
What Happened?
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During a game in the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League, two players were involved in a collision near the net. After both players hit the ice, one unnamed player quickly bounced back to his feet and raised his stick above his head with both hands before making a vicious chopping motion down across the back of his opponent. The player attempted the slash for a second time but missed his target.
The player was given a match penalty and subsequently banned indefinitely by USA Hockey, an affiliate of the Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA) which sanctioned the event.
“The Texas Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey have worked diligently to make our sport safe and enjoyable for amateur hockey players of all ages,” TAHA President Reggie Hall submitted a statement. “This collective effort has been instrumental in the record growth in our Affiliate over the past six years. 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.”
Players often receive one-year suspensions for match penalties, so the player will ultimately learn his fate during his January 8 hearing.
