In a recent minor league hockey game, a player violated the unwritten rule of not openly mocking the referees, regardless of disagreement with their decisions. During the intense matchup between the Wheeling Nailers and the Reading Royals in the ECHL, a fight broke out between two players. Peter Laviolette III, a forward for the Nailers and son of the New York Rangers coach, engaged in the altercation with Royals forward Steven Leonard. Both players were subsequently ejected from the game.
One would assume that the ejections would mark the end of the incident. However, Laviolette took the opportunity to make a final jab at the officiating crew as he was escorted off the ice by one of the linesmen. He mimicked a blind person using a walking stick, clearly aiming his gesture at the referees.
Despite the incident taking place a week ago, the video clip has only recently gained viral attention. It is important to note that pretending to have a disability in this context is highly inappropriate. Exploiting someone else’s hardship for personal gain is not a commendable action.
Furthermore, it is puzzling why Laviolette directed his anger towards the referees at that particular moment in the game. With the Nailers already holding a comfortable 3-0 lead and approximately 11 minutes remaining, the outcome of the fight did not significantly impact the team. Additionally, Laviolette willingly participated in the altercation, leaving him with no grounds to argue for continued participation in the game.
Consequently, Laviolette faced criticism from numerous individuals on various platforms for his actions, with some even suggesting that his behavior reflects poorly on his father’s reputation, despite the elder Laviolette’s positive standing. As a minor league player, it is crucial for Laviolette to find more constructive ways to express his frustration, as it could greatly influence how professional teams perceive him.
According to the Source outkick.com