While some argue the consequences may be lenient, considering the circumstances, others view the player as fortunate to avoid a lifetime ban.
A mere three days ago, an incident unfolded in a fifth-tier Swedish league where a player struck a referee during a game, resulting in the official sustaining a broken arm. Casper Gillberg, the 22-year-old player responsible, initially dismissed it as an accident post-game, despite video evidence clearly depicting a deliberate hit on the unsuspecting referee.
Facing inevitable backlash, Gillberg drastically altered his stance the next day, expressing deep regret and shame for his actions. Today, he received a suspension of over a year. HockeyTrean has mandated that he cannot return to play until after December 31st, 2024.
In essence, the committee deemed the hit intentional and considered Gillberg a repeat offender, taking into account his six-week suspension for an illegal hit on an opponent last season.