Mantas Aramlis is banned for four games for the blow to the head of Olli Palola.
For hockeysverige.se, Leksand’s sporting director Thomas Johansson gives his view on the penalty – and the knock.
– It is of course not something we in Leksand defend, that you act as Mantas did, says “Tjomme”.
Leksand’s Mantas Armalis was suspended for four games and fined after the blow to the head of Oskarshamn’s Olli Palola. A verdict that Leksand’s sporting director Thomas Johansson thinks of like this:
– Based on how the situation was, it is still quite reasonable. We looked at some other situations where there were blows to the head. Where you stand defenseless and someone cuts. I think it was, among other things, (Juhani) Tyrväinen who had a blow to the back of Joel Lundqvist’s head, which resulted in two games.
– We thought the suspension would be between two and five games, so four games was in line with what we expected.
How do you think about how Mantas Armalis acted in the actual situation?
– Of course it’s not justifiable to behave that way, that’s how it is. Mantas is deeply remorseful based on the situation and the result of his actions.
– It is of course not something we in Leksand defend, that you act as Mantas did.
“Spearing is one of the ugliest things you can do in ice hockey”
The origin of the situation is a spearing in the side Mantas Armalis from Olli Palola.
– It is still the start of this whole situation, when he sticks the club in the side of Mantas.
– Manta’s reaction indicates that it was not a light blow with the club, but rather a serious one. Otherwise, I don’t think Mantas wouldn’t have cared much about that.
– I don’t think it’s okay either. Spearing is one of the ugliest things you can do in ice hockey. When I played, you had to learn quite quickly that this is something you don’t do. Based on that, I don’t think it was nicely done by him.
Thomas Johansson has also been in contact with Oskarshamn’s sporting director, Thomas Fröberg, regarding the situation.
– Yes, I buzzed with Fröberg and checked out. According to the circumstances, everything seems to be okay with the Oskarshamn player.
Mantas Armalis was remorseful after the hit on Olli Palola. Photo: Suvad Mrkonjc/Bildbyrån
With this comes a drive mainly on social media against both Mantas Armalis and Olli Palola, what do you think about that?
– I have not followed what was written, but in situations like this there are often two divided camps. Some think this and others that.
– You have to be able to handle the conversations without it getting out of hand, regardless of who it is and what the context.
– It’s also a bit of the times we live in, that emotionally driven people behind the buttons on social media express themselves in a sometimes incredibly bad way. Unfortunately, this is something that both players and leaders around associations have to learn to deal with when things happen.
– Many people have quite a lot of opinions about who is right or wrong, started or didn’t start and things like that. That a drive should arise is tragic.
“Then we may have to look over the situation and act in a different way”
Match tomorrow again, who will be the goalkeeper next Philip Larsson in the match against Frölunda?
– I don’t know, but I assume that it is one of our junior goalkeepers who is sitting on the bench tomorrow, but we’ll see.
You have Tingsryds Daniel Rosengren as a named goalkeeper, is it relevant to pick him up?
– Yes exactly. Even during the season, if one of my goalkeepers is sick, we first of all use goalkeepers from our own organization. There is no other procedure than that.
– If something were to happen to Filip, we might have to review the situation and act in a different way.
– Just like during a regular season, if Filip or Mantas is sick, one of our junior keepers can be a backup.
Leksand’s team captain, Patrik Zackrisson, was missing against Oskarshamn, but Thomas Johansson believes he may play in Thursday’s match.
– I think “Zacke” can be available to play tomorrow. The team is on its way home from Oskarshamn, so I don’t have a real status on “Zacke”, because I didn’t meet him today, or the group in general.
– I have to wait until tomorrow before I know whether to rest players who are available, concludes Thomas Johansson.
