Luleå forward Brendan Shinnimin has been fined 10,000 kronor by the SHL disciplinary committee for embellishing a fall during a match against Rögle, marking his fourth such offense. The incident occurred in the second period when Shinnimin tangled with Rögle's Calvin de Haan. Shinnimin provided a detailed explanation, but the committee rejected it, citing video evidence.
Brendan Shinnimin, a forward for Luleå in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), faced disciplinary action following an incident in the team's game against Rögle. With 4:05 remaining in the second period, Shinnimin was involved in a scrum with Rögle defenseman Calvin de Haan. According to the Players Safety Group's report, Shinnimin was lightly hooked but then exaggerated the contact by losing his footing and falling easily, leading to a two-minute penalty for diving or embellishment. De Haan was penalized for hooking.
The disciplinary committee reviewed the case and imposed a 10,000 kronor fine on Shinnimin, describing it as a moderate penalty. In their decision, they stated: “Av filmsekvensen anser nämnden det utrett att Brendan Shinnimin gjort sig skyldig till Embellishment på sätt som påstås i anmälan. Fallet kan inte förklaras av att Brendan Shinnimins skridsko fastnar i isen på det sätt han beskrivit.” This brings Shinnimin's total fines for similar infractions to 30,000 kronor.
Shinnimin submitted his version to the committee, explaining that de Haan's stick came under his arm as he tried to break free. He claimed his right skate caught in the ice, twisting his ankle and causing him to lose balance unintentionally. “Jag har lärt mig min läxa angående förstärkning och har arbetat hårt och nära med domarna under de senaste tre åren,” Shinnimin wrote, adding that he had collaborated with SHL referees for three years to improve his play and eliminate exaggerations. He suggested de Haan's post-incident gestures, mimicking a dive, may have influenced the referee's call.
This is not Shinnimin's first offense. In 2022, he was fined twice: 5,000 kronor initially and then 10,000 kronor for a repeat violation. In March 2024, he received another 5,000 kronor fine in a duel with Örebro's Hannes Björninen. Luleå's former general manager Stefan 'Skuggan' Nilsson had previously stated the club distanced itself from diving. The SHL has increased fines to deter such behavior in the league.
