Wheeling Nailers forward Peter Laviolette let the refs know about his dissatisfaction with a penalty call by imitating a blind ref on his way off the ice. Laviolette covered his eyes and flipped his stick over, tapping it on the ice like a cane as if visually impaired.
The Nailers winger was tossed for rouging and for continuing an altercation with Reading Royals forward Steven Leonard.
46.5. Continuing or Attempting to Continue a Fight – Any player who persists in continuing or attempting to continue a fight or altercation after he has been ordered by the Referee to stop, or who resists a Linesman in the discharge of his duties shall, at the discretion of the Referee, incur a misconduct or game misconduct penalty in addition to any penalties imposed.
Leonard picked up penalties for cross-checking, slashing, and inciting, under Rule 75.4:
Misconduct penalties shall be assessed under this rule for … any player who, persists in any course of conduct (including threatening or abusive language or gestures or similar actions) designed to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty.
No additional penalties were assessed to Laviolette for his dramatic departure.
Laviolette is the son of New York Rangers’ head coach Peter Laviolette. He’s in his second season with the Nailers after finishing his collegiate career at Plymouth State University. Lavy has six goals and nine assists in 65 ECHL games, along with 180 penalty minutes.
The Wheeling Nailers defeated the Reading Royals 3-2. Referees for the game were Will Kelly (#7) and Dominic Cadieux (#3), with Taylor Zallek (#41) and Chadd Collin (#51) on lines.
