The defender of Helsinki IFK must be sentenced to a substantial suspension. There is no other option, writes journalist Jussi Paasi.
Puheen Ice Hockey tour on Tuesday at 17:45. from: Women’s League third final HIFK–Kiekko-Espoo and SM league quarter-final Tappara–KooKoo.
What is the ugliest thing you can do to an opponent in hockey?
The first thing that comes to mind is a deliberate head tackle. And even so that the opponent can’t prepare for a hit in any way.
The leg sweep, i.e. kicking the opponent’s legs from behind, is also one of the rattiest tricks on the rink.
A particularly effective tool for harming another is, of course, a club. When you take the club in both hands and hit with a cross club, you are at the heart of ugliness. Getting hit in the neck, neck or face with a “boy” is definitely at the top of the worst actions.
Defender of HIFK Ilari Melart chose a transverse bat from the aforementioned options in Monday night’s HIFK–Lukko match, with which he would crush the Romanians Anrei Search list to the face.
Just before the impact, the buzzer had sounded to signal the end of the second period. Hakulinen intentionally skated towards Melarti, who had previously tackled another Luko player.
The captain of the lock knew exactly what he was doing. Provoke Melart. That’s what they do in the playoffs all the time. The constant wrestling, pushing and challenging the opponent that takes place after the whistles are part of the spring games.
But a cross stick to the opponent’s face does not belong in spring games. It doesn’t belong in any games. Under no circumstances.
Hakulinen survived Melarti’s outrageous act like a miracle and was able to continue playing.
It is still not a mitigating factor. And Melart can’t blame his reaction on self-defense. The trick was unequivocally absurd and dangerous to the opponent’s health.
Melarti must be sentenced to a substantial suspension. There is no other option.
Lock defender Samuli Piipponen got a five-game ban after tackling HIFK in the opening game of the pair of matches Miro from Väänä deliberately to the head.
Now Melart deliberately hit Hakulist in the face with a cross stick.
As I write this comment, the disciplinary delegation of the SM League has not yet made its decision in Melarti’s case. A suspension of less than five games would be a joke.
I return to the original question. What is the ugliest thing you can do to an opponent in hockey?
Melarti’s act was an uglier trick than Piipponen’s tackle. The length of the ban must be in accordance with it. So more than five games.