Former NHL player Joe Juneau is currently working in the Canadian junior hockey system. Now, he is calling for a lifetime ban on a player following an on-ice assault during a tournament this weekend.
Juneau was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1988. During his 13-year NHL career, he played for the Bruins, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, and Montreal Canadiens.
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Disgraceful assault before the game
After retiring in 2004, Juneau dedicated his life to youth hockey in his native Quebec. He is currently an assistant coach for the École Zénith hockey development program at Saint-Marc High School in Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, in Portneuf, Quebec. During the final of the BMO National Tournament in Rimouski, one of his players was attacked before the game even started.
The Zénith players were skating onto the ice with the arena lights dimmed. Then, a player from their opponents, the Paul-Hubert High School Selects, skated over the red line and delivered a vicious blindside hit to a Zénith player. The Zénith player was knocked to the ice and was visibly in pain. The player who delivered the hit received a 10-minute misconduct.
Joe Juneau calls for lifetime ban
Juneau posted about the incident on his Facebook page, calling out what he described as a brutal assault.
“So filthy and disgraceful! A gesture that deserves nothing less than a lifetime ban! I hope the federation’s leaders will act accordingly! And they dare call this school hockey! What a terrible example of education!” Juneau wrote in French.
Fans have also expressed outrage, many supporting Juneau’s call for a lifetime ban.
“Joe is right. Ban the kid. And charge him. That’s assault,” one fan wrote.
“Disgraceful,” another added.
“Wow. Already a piece of crap at that age. Yes, ban him,” a third commented.
You can watch the assault below.
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