Saturday 14 October 2017

Six Games For Being An Idiot

This guy to the left? That's Roman Abrosimov, a defenceman for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL. The 23 year-old has played in 74 regular season games and accumulated a paltry two goals and three assists. He does have 53 career penalty minutes, and that statistic will certainly be increased after Abrosimov committed the most boneheaded incident that a player can do. His indiscretion will most likely earn him some time off as well as all leagues are pretty much against any and all abuse of officials. You'd think a player at the professional level would know this rule after having it taught to him at every level he has played, but c'est la vie in Abrosimov's case.

According to reports, yesterday's game between Ak Bars Kazan and Yaroslavl Lokomotiv saw Lokomotiv up 6-2 late in the game when Mr. Abrosimov decided that he was going to lose all sense by delivering what some have called a "cheap shot" on Lokomotiv defenceman Rushan Rafikov. Abrosmiov "tripped" and ultimately injured Rafikov with the "trip", and pandemonium ensued. If you notice, I have put all of the contestable words in quotation marks as I haven't been able to find any video of the infraction yet. But let's get back to said pandemonium, shall we?

Players began squaring off as the tension escalated between the two squads, and it was during this heightened turmoil that saw Abrosimov, engaged in a heated discussion with a Lokomotiv player, push the linesman who was looking to mediate the skirmish. In short, Abrosimov put his hands on an official, and that's a no-no. For that, the KHL has handed down a six-game break for Abrosimov for his to reflect upon his actions towards both Rafikov and the linesman. The official ruling seems to be a fine and one-game suspension for the shot on Rafikov while the abuse of an official netted Abrosimov a fine and five additional games off.

Kids, if there's one thing that HBIC will never condone, it's the abuse of an official. Officials are there to ensure the game runs smoothly and, at times, be the voice of better judgment in trying to keep hot heads from boiling over. They are not and never will be your enemies no matter what they seem to miss, what calls go against you, and what your coaches and/or parents may say in the heat of the moment. Don't be a dope like Abromisov and touch an official in any way other than to shake hands before or after a game.

That's six games for being a dope, kids.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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