A Russian hockey player on the Lightning list of Tampa Bay was suspended 10 games for having used what was called “racially insensitive language” to an opponent.
Maxim Groshev is currently playing for the American hockey league team Syracuse Crunch, and the incident occurred in a match on Saturday against Rochester.
Because Groshev, 23, has already spent a match, he will be eligible to return to play on March 30.
He can also call on the rest of his suspension after eight games if he participates in the inclusion coalition of NHL players and does what is considered by the president and chief executive officer of Ahl Scott Howson as sufficient progress in the training program.
“The American Hockey League is committed to building a safe, inclusive and abuse culture, harassment and all forms of behavior or fault contrary to ethics, and considers that learning individual inclusion is a key element in the improvement of culture across the league,” the League said in a press release.
Tampa Bay’s Lightning selected Grosshev in the third round of the 2020 draft. This is his second season with the Best Lightning affiliate of the Lightning.
Maxim Groshev is represented in a NHL pre-season match for the Tampa Bay Lightning
He has five goals and six assists in 46 games this season. Groshev recorded 10 goals and 20 assists in 67 games last season.
He has not yet played a regular season game for Lightning, and the exact details of the alleged comment “racily insensitive” have not been made public.
The recipient of his comments is not currently known.