Tobias Fohrler of HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss League has received a preliminary suspension of two games for punching linesman Sandro Gurtner in the face.  The league is still reviewing the play for further disciplinary action.

The altercation came during a February 21 game between HC Ambri-Piotta and HC Ajoie.  Fohrler was involved with defenseman Eric Gelinas. The two players were being separated by the linesmen when Fohrler decided to throw a punch.  Instead of connecting with Gelinas, he caught Gurtner in the face. 

 

 

Gelinas broke out in laughter, pointing as Fohrler was escorted off the ice. The German defenseman picked up a game misconduct penalty for physical abuse of officials. 

From Rule 39:

Any Player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an Official, in any manner, where such actions were likely to cause injury to the latter to 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.

Rule 40 addresses additional discipline. The IIHF breakdown is similar to how the NHL categorizes offenses:

40.2. SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE – SUSPENSION – CATEGORY I

Any Player who deliberately strikes an Official and could cause an 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. For the purpose of the rule, “could cause an injury” shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.

 

40.3. SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE – 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.

 

40.4. SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE – SUSPENSION – CATEGORY III

Any Player who, by their 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, smearing blood 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.

 

In the NHL, a Category I offense would require a mandatory 20-game suspension.  Category II would be a 10-game ban, while Category III would require a three-game sentence.  The first two require the player to have deliberately applied force to the official, with the difference being the severity and if it was adjudged to be an attempt to injure.

We’ll await the Swiss League’s ruling.  Even if Fohrler’s actions weren’t deliberate, they were reckless and had the potential to cause an injury.

 

Update:  Here’s an alternate angle of the play.  Honestly, this one’s not helping Fohrler’s case.


 

HC Ambri-Piotta went on to defeat HC Ajoie 3-2.  Officials for the game were former NHL referee Mark Lemelin (#41) and Pascal Hungerbuhler (#40), with linesmen Sandro Gurtner (#95) and David Obwegeser (#79). 

 

Stick-tap to Reddit’s /r/hockey for the clip!