Florida Panthers MacKenzie Weegar picked up a misconduct penalty for swinging his stick in frustration and nearly hitting the linesman in the process.
Weegar was frustrated as he was being escorted to the penalty box by linesman Jonny Murray. As he neared the penalty box door, he slammed his stick against the glass, nearly catching Murray with a high stick.
Weegar’s frustration appeared to come from what he believes was a missed call on a hard hit from Tyler Ennis that drove Weegar into the glass. Shortly after that non-call, Weegar was sent to the box with a double-minor for cross-checking. The Panthers defenseman disagreed with the call, and took it out with his stick on the glass.
Weegar’s four minutes quickly turned into a misconduct penalty for his actions. Referee Chris Rooney unloaded on Weegar in the penalty box before booting him from the game.
He’s lucky he didn’t get more.
Here’s Rule 40:
40.1 Game Misconduct – Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an official, physically demeans, or deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty. In addition, the following (40.2, 40.3, 40.4) disciplinary penalties shall apply.
40.2 Automatic Suspension – Category I – Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games. (For the purpose of the rule, “intent to injure” shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)
40.3 Automatic Suspension – Category II – Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.
40.4 Automatic Suspension – Category III – Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.
While Weegar certainly didn’t intend to hit the linesman with his stick, that may have seen him sit for three.
