Canadian college hockey player given lifetime suspension after punching ref

Ontario University Athletics, a league governing body, announced this week that Nipissing University defenseman Brett Cook has been given a lifetime suspension following an incident last month in which he punched a referee.

Cook, in his first year at the school following five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, was being restrained by Nicholas Piche during a third-period scrap when he hit knocked the official to the ice with a right uppercut.

“Upon review by the OUA men’s hockey review panel, consisting of the OUA men’s hockey convenor and a representative of the OUA Sport Committee, Brett Cook has been banned from participating in any OUA-sanctioned competition for the remainder of his university career,” the OUA said in a press release.

Said Cook in the same release: “What I did was wrong, plain and simple. My actions were unacceptable and I take full responsibility. My teammates, coaches and I are thankful that Mr. Piche was not hurt. I am deeply sorry for my actions, for embarrassing my university, the OUA, the CIS and the dignity of the game of hockey and I fully accept the sanctions determined by the OUA.”

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