Sweden Prosecuting Hockey Player For Blind-Side Hit That Ended Opponent’s Career

Defenseman Thomas Larkin was charged with assault for his hit on ex-NHL player Daniel Paille.

04 November 2018, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Mannheim: Ice hockey: DEL, Adler Mannheim - Augsburger Panther, main round, 17th matchday, in the SAP Arena. Mannheim's Thomas Larkin plays the puck. Photo: Uwe Anspach/dpa (Photo by Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images)
04 November 2018, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Mannheim: Ice hockey: DEL, Adler Mannheim - Augsburger Panther, main round, 17th matchday, in the SAP Arena. Mannheim's Thomas Larkin plays the puck. Photo: Uwe Anspach/dpa (Photo by Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images)
picture alliance via Getty Image

Prosecutors in Sweden have charged a hockey player with assault for a blind-side hit on an opponent during a game last year.

Defenseman Thomas Larkin was charged thanks to a hit he made to the head of former NHL player Daniel Paille.

Unfortunately for Paille’s career, the hit may have ended his career as he as not played since sustaining the injury during the game between Swedish club Brynas and German team Adler Mannheim in Gavle.

Following the hit, Larkin did apologize on Twitter.

“It wasn’t my intention to cause an injury. I wanted to put pressure on the puck carrier behind the net. I would like to apologize to Daniel Paille and I hope he is back playing soon,” Larkin wrote.

Sweden’s Supreme Court found a Swedish hockey player guilty of assault for cross-checking an opponent, which paved the way for the criminal prosecution of Larkin.

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