Decision Review System Outcome: Sunday 2nd November 2025
Solway Sharks #10 Liam Stenton
The DRS request submitted by Swindon is upheld.
A DRS review was requested of an incident during the 1st period of the game between Solway Sharks and Swindon Wildcats on Sunday 2nd November 2025.
At approximately 1/15:30 Solway #10 was tripped by a Swindon player near the visiting team's bench. As he regained his feet he looked around and then proceeded to head towards the bench area where Swindon were in the process of a line change.
Solway #10 checked a changing player - who wasn't the player that had tripped him - with a cross checking motion, from behind and "through the numbers". The action threw the player forward into the boards. The first point of contact with the boards was not the head or neck area and the force used was neither minimal or excessive. This motion should have been penalised under Rule 43:
43.1. CHECKING FROM BEHIND
A check from behind is a check delivered to a vulnerable Player who is not aware of the impending hit, therefore unable to protect or defend themself from such a hit and contact is made on the back part of the body.
A Player who hits an opponent from behind into the boards, the goal frame, or on open ice in any manner (i.e., high-sticking, cross-checking, etc.) shall be penalized according to this rule.
43.2. MINOR PENALTY
This infraction is considered serious and dangerous, therefore there is no option to award a minor penalty for “Checking from Be-hind”.
43.3. MAJOR PENALTY AND GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY
The Referee, at their discretion, shall assess a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct penalty to a Player guilty of “checking from behind” an opponent, and who recklessly endangers the fouled player.
The check was delivered from behind and caused reckless endangerment, and should have been penalised with a 5 minute Major and Game Misconduct penalty.
Accordingly, the player receives 5 penalty points and is free to play subject to accumulated penalty points.
