Another day in the KHL, another ridiculous incident. The other day we had two coaches fighting and going at one another. We haven’t seen anything like that since Bob Hartley and John Tortorella. This time, a KHL player sucker punches every player on the opposing team and that team proceeds to forfeit the match.
It truly is a jaw-dropping sight to see.
The player going around and knocking everyone out is Damir Ryspayev, a noted pugilist in the KHL. In 16 games last year, he accumulated 111 penalty minutes. In his entire ice hockey career on record, he has only accumulated four points in well over 150 games. He plays for Barys Astana, a team based in his home country of Kazakhstan.
The team who forfeited the match is Kunlun Red Star, the first Chinese hockey team in the KHL. Not the best first impression for Chinese hockey fans. Only three minutes into the match, the Kunlun Red Star squad quit and because of the forfeiture they lost the game 5-0 according to Championat.com via translation.
Tomas Marcinko was sent to the hospital, #84 in the video above, because of the incident. According to the same report saying Marcinko was sent to the hospital, Championat.com is also reporting that arrests were made.
This is what the KHL had to say via a press release:
8 August pre-season tournament in Astana in the match between HC “Barys” vs. “Kunlun Red Star” was an incident involving the defense of Kazakhstan’s club Damir Ryspaeva, in connection with which the league says the following:
“Ryspaeva behavior has nothing to do with hockey and contradicts not only the rules, but also the spirit of our game. Such actions should not be the case not only in matches involving clubs in the KHL, but also in sports in general.
The League strongly condemns the behavior of the attacker, “Barys”. Such actions on the part of Ryspaeva is systematic, in spite of repeated punishment in accordance with the Rules of the KHL.On the basis of Article 33 of the Disciplinary Rules of the CHL, in order to prevent and avoid deliberate actions by foul play hockey, which can lead to serious injuries hockey players, moral harm hockey fans and damage the image of the league, the KHL prohibits from August 9, 2016 the continued participation of the hockey player of HC “Barys” Astana Damir Ryspaeva in all competitions and friendly matches in preparation for the Championship League.
The decision on the application of penal and disciplinary sanctions against hockey player D. Ryspaevu will be made at a meeting of sports disciplinary committee after receiving all the necessary materials for this incident. “
