NHL Decides Against Discipline for Stars’ Mason Marchment After Referee Incident
Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment sparked speculation about potential discipline after he was seen tapping a referee’s shins with his stick following a no-call in the second period of Game 4 against the Winnipeg Jets. However, it seems he won’t face any punishment.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the league has reviewed the incident and determined that it was ultimately up to the on-ice officials to decide if Marchment’s action warranted an abuse-of-officials penalty. Since referee Graham Skilliter did not call a penalty at the time, Marchment is unlikely to be disciplined further.
NHL rules prohibit contact with officials, and intentional contact could result in a major penalty (five minutes) or even ejection. However, since no penalty was assessed during the game, it appears Marchment has avoided any additional repercussions.
The incident occurred after Marchment was tripped during a breakaway, but no penalty was called. He then became tangled with Jets forward Mark Scheifele and slowly skated off the ice. In his frustration, he reached out with his stick and made light contact with Skilliter’s shins.
With no further action expected, Marchment will likely be back on the ice for Game 4, which is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 13.
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