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Joel Lundqvist, Henrik's twin, suspended after pushing official (w/video)

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TJ Tucker
December 11, 2020  (9:24)
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Henrik Lundqvist's twin brother Joel, who has played in the SHL for several years, has found himself in trouble with the league after an incident involving an official during a game Thursday.

"At the end of the second period , a rift arises between players Joel Lundquist (Frolunda) and Emil Johansson (HV71)," said the league in a statement. "When the players have separated and the line judges are between the two players, Lundqvist again seeks contact with Johansson and at the same time pushes one of the line judges in the back."

Here's video of the incident:

The league has announced that Lundqvist will sit out the next five games because of his action.

"Joel Lundquist has a good view and is deemed to be fully aware of his actions," said the SHL's disciplinary committee. "It is also a question of a relatively powerful push that is handed out. The committee finds that it has been investigated that Joel Lundquist was guilty of physical abuse of officials. The offense should lead to a suspension. The behavior, to physically push an official in this way, is completely unacceptable and should lead to a tangible punishment ", the board writes.

Lundqvist was not happy with the suspension.

"Of course you are disappointed with the verdict, but first and foremost you're disappointed in yourself for putting yourself in such a situation. I accept the verdict but do not agree," he said.

"The committee completely ignores my arguments and how I perceived the situation. I think the handling of the whole case could have been done better. But again, mostly disappointed in myself."

The SHL earlier said it was aware that Lundqvist's shove on the official was not intentional and that he was, instead, attempting to push the player he was engaged with. However, it said it could not let someone get away with abusing an official, whether intentional or not.