Södertälje Sportklubb (SSK) has reacted strongly to the absence of a disciplinary complaint following a match penalty to Kalmar's Carl Johan-Lerby. Lerby was ejected after six minutes for crosschecking SSK's Teemu Väyrynen in the head area during the opening minutes of their first match. SSK sports chief Emil Georgsson called the situation 'a joke'.
In the first match between SSK and Kalmar, Carl Johan-Lerby received a match penalty and left the ice after just six minutes played. The incident occurred when Lerby crosschecked Teemu Väyrynen at head height early in the game, with the puck not even in the area, according to SSK's account. The stick broke from the force of the check, which struck Väyrynen's shoulder and moved toward his neck. No injury resulted, which SSK described as fortunate luck due to the shoulder pad slowing the impact. On Monday, no report (anmälan) was submitted to the disciplinary committee, prompting outrage from the SSK camp. Sports chief Emil Georgsson expressed his anger in an interview with Länstidningen: “Jag är riktigt förbannad, det är ju ett skämt. Det är en livsfarlig crosschecking, helt utanför spelet... Det är ju ett överfall.” He added, “Den tar i axeln och sedan upp mot nacken. Vad är det för handling? ... Det är bara ren flyt att Väyrynen inte blir ordentligt skadad.” Georgsson spoke with referee chief Björn Wettergren, who agreed it warranted a complaint but noted the system requires the Players safety group to file it. Georgsson tried contacting the group without success. The second match between SSK and Kalmar is scheduled for Tuesday.
