Brett Cook, a hockey player at Nipissing University, has been given a lifetime ban for punching a linesman. Cook was playing in a game against L’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières when a fight broke out. While a linesman was trying to break up the fight and keep Cook from his opponent, he punched him in the face with an uppercut.

“Upon review by the Ontario University Athletics 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.

Cook did issue the following apology:

“What I did was wrong, plain and simple,” Cook said in the OUA release. “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.”

[HT TorontoSun]