A Richmond Sockeyes defenceman has received a 31-game suspension after a late January “on-ice incident” in a game against the North Vancouver Wolf Pack.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League and its player safety department investigated the incident and decided on the 31-game suspension under five different sections.
Eithan Grishin was involved in a fight with the goalie of the North Vancouver Wolf Pack, Evan Paul, at the Jan. 25 game at Minoru Arena.
Video of the game shows an altercation between Paul and Grishin. During the incident, Grishin appears to put Paul in a chokehold. After they are separated, Paul is seen lying nearly motionless on the ice.
After the ruling came down, Grishin appealed the decision but, in the end, the commissioner upheld it.
The Richmond Sockeyes released a statement on Tuesday, saying they stand by Grishin and he remains a “big part of the Richmond Sockeyes family.”
“The Sockeyes will continue to support Eithan and his wellness, and ask that everyone respects the privacy of the player and his family,” they said in a statement.
The ruling gave a three-game suspension for head contact, a 12-game suspension for the match penalty, an eight-game suspension for receiving a third match penalty in the season, a two-game suspension for getting a game misconduct in the last 10 minutes of regulation time and a six-game suspension under the BC Hockey Canada “repeat offenders” discipline rules.
The Sockeyes noted they don’t condone “social media threats of any kind that have been received by the player and his family.”
They also say they are grateful to medical staff who provided “timely support” to Grishin as he was also injured at the Jan. 25 game.
The North Van Wolf Pack said it supports the disciplinary ruling as it relates to Grishin.
"The safety of all players in the PJHL and any actions which threaten their safety are adjudicated by the Department of Player Safety," the team said in an emailed statement. "The DOPS ruling sends a message to all teams that there are consequences for actions outside normal bounds and that a propensity for negative behaviours will be strictly dealt with."
- with files from Nick Laba/North Shore News
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