Bridgeport Islanders winger Adam Beckman did something that almost every hockey player has wanted to do at one point or another – give the ref a little bit of the rough stuff.
The problem is that Beckman went a bit too far with it.
During the third period of a game against the Charlotte Checkers last Saturday, Beckman was chasing down a dump-in when the incident occurred.
Beckman was skating towards the end-boards next to a Checkers player who also was chasing the puck. But when an official couldn’t get out of his path in time, Beckman ran into him and gave him a shove.
WARNING: Explicit language
The ref went flying, being lifted off his feet and sent on his back into the boards in the corner, where he lay on the ice until a team medical trainer came to check him out.
Fortunately, the ref was eventually able to get up under his own power and even continued with the game.
For what it’s worth, the winger did seem to be somewhat distracted as he was eying the puck at the time when he collided with the referee and may have mistaken him for an opposing player.
During the clip, a very audible exclamation of “Oh, s***!” can be heard, but it’s unclear if it came from a player on the ice or a fan in the crowd.
Beckman also seemed apologetic after recognizing that it was an official that he had shoved.
So, while it could’ve been accidental, nobody will know for sure except for Beckman.
But while the referee avoided serious injury from the incident, Beckman has seen his season come to an end.
The former Minnesota Wild forward received a 10-game suspension on Wednesday for “physical abuse of an official.”
As Beckman’s contract with Bridgeport is up after this season, he will serve the first five games of the ban as the Islanders wrap up their season and then the last five with whichever AHL team he should join this fall.
A third-round pick in 2019, Beckman has had a few proverbial cups of coffee in the NHL. He played 23 total games over three seasons with the Wild, recording three points and 14 penalty minutes.
He had joined the Islanders organization via a trade with the New Jersey Devils earlier this year.
In his 12 games with Bridgeport since the deal, Beckman had four goals and seven points.