Ex-NHL goalie suspend for throwing water bottle at refer in Swedish league

Kasimir Kaskisuo has two career NHL games on his resume. (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kasimir Kaskisuo is a veteran of two NHL seasons. (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Officially officiating hockey can be one of the most difficult jobs in professional sports. This is especially true when a player crosses a boundary, as Kasimir Kaskisuo, a former NHLer and goaltender for the Swedish Hockey League, did on Thursday.

Kaskisuo, backup netminder of Leksands IF, held a 2-0 lead and allowed three goals to HV71. The 29-yearold was visibly upset afterward and hit one referee with his water bottle.

The veteran netminder was ejected from the contest and received a match penalty. He has also been suspended five games and fined 23,750 Swedish krona — the equivalent of $2,300 USD.

Kaskisuo will be forced to sit out Leksands’ final three regular-season games and its first two playoff matchups. But given that he is the club’s No. He may have played his last game in 2022-23, given that he is the club’s No. 2.

The SHL handed down its ruling on Friday, describing Kaskisuo’s actions as “fully deliberate and inappropriate.” The league’s disciplinary committee also issued a statement, explaining its ruling on the netminder’s supplemental discipline.

“All forms of improper body contact against a referee or other official must be punished with game misconduct on the ice (Rule 40.1) and reported to the disciplinary committee. The footage shows Kasimir Kaskisuo reaching for his water bottle at the end of the whistle. He throws it at Kaskisuo, who is far away.

“The bottle hits the referee’s head. Kaskisuo will be punished for the physical abuse of officials. This shall result in a suspension according to the decision. Kaskisuo must also pay a fine in the amount stated in the decision.”

The 6-foot-3 goaltender shared his story after being suspended. He claimed that his anger over a few poor calls, and a costly goal against, led to him letting his anger consume. However, he was embarrassed at how he handled this incident.

Kaskisuo also apologised for his disrespect of the official he hit using his water bottle, but also his teammates as well as the Leksands organisation.

“After an obvious too many men on the ice and/or offside in the same situation, I let in a poor goal in an important loss, and my emotions and frustration took over,” Kaskisuo said, per Scouting the Refs. “As an athlete on the highest level, I should handle these things in another way. In this case I didn’t, and for that I’m very sorry and feel embarrassed about it. I apologize to the referee, my teammates, the organization, and the fans.”

Finnish native Vantaa has been with Leksands IF for two seasons. He posted a 2.78 goals against average and a.904 saving percentage in 60 games. He also holds a pair shutouts. They both occurred in 2021-22.

Kaskisuo was undrafted but made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 16, 2019. He scored six goals on 38 shots. In relief, the Nashville Predators used him again in the next season. He saw three shots in just 15:22.

Kaskisuo was selected to the 2019-20 AHL All-Star Game after registering a 2.79 goals-against-average and a.909 save rate in 27 games that year with the Toronto Marlies.

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