Ice hockey:”attempted murder” Adler criticizes accusation from Sweden

The Adler Mannheim defend themselves against criticism from the Swedish club Brynäs IF. Sport boss Stefan Bengtzen had called a check by eagle defender Thomas Larkin after the second leg of last week’s match in the Champions Hockey League a “murder attempt”.

“We reject these accusations far from us. Thomas had no intention of killing his opponent. This statement is a great impertinence,”Adler managing director Daniel Hopp was quoted in a statement of the association. The term attempted murder falls “into the realm of’ slanderous libel’. This is a criminal offence.”

Larkin had taken down opponent Daniel Paille backstabbingly in the final minute of the game and had been banned from four CHL games a day later,”Thomas to Daniel Paille’s check was undoubtedly an overly harsh action that was punished accordingly by the CHL. Thomas has also apologized to his opponent,”said Hopp:”But the personal attacks and attacks of the Brynass-responsible persons against our player are no longer acceptable”.