The coach of Dundee Stars under-14s ice hockey team has been suspended for his part in the rumpus over one of his players larking about in a bear costume.
Stuart Barnett says he is considering his position over the shock ban, due to last until after the summer. The news was sent to him by an email from the sport’s governing body.
He had expected to be called to a disciplinary panel of Scottish Ice Hockey Ltd over the incident involving Pavel Pliskov at Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy last Saturday.
He was set to defend himself against the charge of not keeping his players under control but was stunned to learn that his fate had been decided in his absence.
His licence as a coach has been revoked until the third game of next season, meaning he will miss his team’s involvement in summer tournaments and in the opening two games of the 2012-13 campaign.
Pavel, a 14-year-old Menzieshill High School pupil, donned the costume in celebrating his team’s success in reaching the national cup final and play-acted around the premises to the amusement of many people.
Officials of the governing body didn’t see the funny side of his behaviour, however, and banned Pavel from taking part in the crucial match and wouldn’t let him join his team-mates to collect winners’ medals at the end of event.
Stuart thought officials had over-reacted in the way they punished the Lithuanian-born youngster who had indulged in what he thought was only high-spirited fun.
He considered a letter of apology would have been sufficient but was stunned when the email arrived informing him that his coaching licence had been removed for all matches up to the first two games of next season.
Unwilling to comment in detail about his treatment for fear of further upsetting ice hockey officials, he said: ”I have been involved in ice hockey as a player and coach for many years and this is hard to take.
”We have got some big tournaments over the summer throughout the UK and two games at the start of next season, and I am going to miss them.
”I understand I am being blamed for not keeping Pavel under control and letting him go on the ice at the end of the final after knowing he had been banned.
”Pavel was upset at not being allowed to play in the final but he was thrilled at the team winning the cup, and I couldn’t bring myself to stop him from going on to the ice for the presentation.”
Stuart’s ban has been discussed by Dundee Stars officials but they did not return calls to The Courier made in an effort to find out what action they might take.
Jim Anderson, chairman of Scottish Ice Hockey, was unavailable, but John Paterson, secretary of the organisation, said: ”This is an internal disciplinary matter and I have no comment to make.”
Earlier this week Mr Anderson said Pavel should not have been in the room where the costume of Fife Flyers’ Sam the Bear was kept, and was also in other parts of the arena which were out of bounds.
Stuart took issue with the chairman’s version of events and said other boys had been wearing the costume but no action was taken against them.