A hockey coach who threw sticks and other equipment onto the ice in a
violent outburst during a playoff game was suspended 12 games Saturday
by the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Dauphin Kings head coach
and general manager Marlin Murray’s profanity laced tantrum was caught
on video near the end of a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Saints on Thursday.

Murray
was suspended two games for a gross misconduct penalty and a 10-game
match penalty for physical harassment of referees Brett Montsion and
Ryan Galley, who were Murray’s targets. It is unclear what sparked the
outburst.

Video of the incident made its way onto YouTube and was
picked up by websites and broadcasters the day after the game, although
MJHL commissioner Kim Davis said the suspension would have been handed
out regardless of the unexpected publicity.

“The suspensions
issued were not as a result of the videotape but as a result of the
behaviour that happened to be videotaped …,” said Davis.

“It
really doesn’t have anything to do with whether it tarnished the image
of the league or anything like that. Clearly that’s an issue but we
don’t attribute one or two or three games to the number as a result of
that negative part.”

Murray, who is in his ninth season as
Dauphin’s coach, did not immediately return a telephone message from The
Canadian Press. The Kings were also fined an undisclosed amount as per
league policy.

Players between the ages of 16-20 play in the
league, and Davis conceded how a coach acts among his players would be
of importance in any league.

“At any level really coaches are
major influencer of the people they are coaching,” he said. “Clearly in
this case this was not a positive image by any stretch. So I can’t
comment on what impact it had on the players in question but obviously
it’s not a positive image and it’s not something that we condone, that’s
for sure.”

The Kings, which trail the Saints 3-1 in the series, hosted Game 5 on Saturday.