Tampa Bay Lightnings Head Coach Penalized For Hitting A Referee

Touching referees is a major no-no in the NHL, often resulting in automatic suspensions for players, provided the contact is intentional and not during the breakup of a fight. However, a rare occurrence unfolded tonight when the Tampa Bay Lightning faced consequences for abuse of officials.

In an unusual turn of events, Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper found himself penalized for abuse of officials. Instead of a player getting into a tiff with the refs, Cooper got into a heated argument, vigorously waving his arms around and ultimately chopping at one of the referee's arms.





While the referees could have ejected Cooper from the game, he was fortunate to escape with just a minor penalty. Cooper, known for calmly addressing officiating concerns in post-game interviews, has developed a reputation over the years. It remains to be seen if the NHL will review this incident for potential supplementary discipline for the veteran coach.

Source: Houseofhockey