By Canadian Press

Swore on video: Saskatchewan hockey player suspended for hit on goalie banned

Sep 30, 2019 | 3:26 PM

YORKTON, Sask. — A Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League player who was serving a suspension for rough play on a goaltender won’t be playing for the rest of the season after appearing in a profanity-laced video.

The Yorkton Terriers released forward Greg Mulhall on Sunday and the league banned him for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Mulhall was suspended for 25 games for a head shot on Melville Millionaires netminder Berk Berkeliev in a game on Sept. 14.

Berkeliev was hospitalized after suffering a concussion and losing several teeth when the two players collided while he was out of the crease.

In a video posted on social media, Mulhall swears repeatedly as he boasts about the hit and shows no remorse.

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The league says in a statement that the video was disrespectful.

The SJHL did not say if Mulhall will be eligible to return next season.

Berkeliev left his crease to play the puck near the blue line when Mulhall ran into the unsuspecting goaltender, whose helmet went flying as he fell backwards onto the ice.

Berkeliev appeared to lie motionless as a melee between players ensued and resulted in 88 minutes in penalties between the two clubs.

Mulhall was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure or deliberate injury.

Berkeliev, who spent one night in hospital, needed eight to 10 stitches on his face and upper lip and five on the back of his head.

The game ended with a total of 43 infractions for 228 penalty minutes. The teams combined for 17 10-minute misconducts as well.

SJHL president Bill Chow has said the suspension was based on the severity of the hit and the vulnerability of Berkeliev when he was hit. Chow also said it took into account that player safety is “first and foremost.”

Mat Hehr, Terriers coach and general manager, said at the time that Mulhall regretted his actions and was “punished pretty severely.”

“We have to be here to support him. He is a 19-year-old kid who I think deeply regrets the situation.”

Yorkton and Melville, just over 40 kilometres apart, have had a long history in the SJHL, but Chow said teams need to set aside rivalries and just play hockey.

“It’s up to the players and the teams to play the game the way the game is meant to be played,” Chow said. “Of course, there’s rivalries and things may get heated, but it’s important that the players and the coaches take their emotions out of it and play the game to the best of their abilities.”

The two teams next meet on Saturday. (CKOM, CTV, CJME)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2019.

The Canadian Press