Luleå Hockey forward Brendan Shinnimin will face no disciplinary action following an incident during a game against Skellefteå AIK on February 28, 2026, the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation’s Disciplinary Committee announced on March 1st. The decision comes after Shinnimin struck Skellefteå’s assistant coach, Andreas Falk, in the chest during a confrontation in the player’s tunnel.
The incident began when Falk initiated physical contact, reportedly pushing Shinnimin into a backdrop, according to the Disciplinary Committee’s statement. Shinnimin responded with a single punch. A security guard subsequently intervened to separate the two men.
Both Falk and Shinnimin were initially reported for potential violations of the league’s fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct rules. Falk was cited under rule 46:11 regarding fighting, although Shinnimin faced potential penalties under rule 46 (fighting) or rule 75 (unsportsmanlike conduct). However, the committee determined that Falk’s initial action constituted a clear provocation.
“Even though Brendan Shinnimin’s actions constitute a punishable offense, they occurred after he was subjected to an obvious provocation,” the Disciplinary Committee stated. “Under these circumstances, the provocation is deemed to be of such a nature that no disciplinary sanction should be imposed.”
The game itself, a Norrlandsderby match between Luleå and Skellefteå, was a heated affair. According to reports from Expressen, Shinnimin described Falk’s actions as “fegt” (cowardly) and stated he “bor hyresfritt i deras huvuden” (lives rent-free in their heads), suggesting he believes he is a significant distraction for the opposing team. Shinnimin also alluded to Skellefteå players taking “dumma utvisningar” (stupid penalties) and their coach becoming involved.
SVT Nyheter reported that a security guard was required to intervene in the tunnel altercation, and TV4 commentators noted Shinnimin appeared to throw a punch towards the guard, a claim disputed by Luleå forward Mathias Bromé, who suggested Falk initiated the conflict.
Skellefteå AIK released a statement acknowledging the incident but has not offered further comment beyond confirming the Disciplinary Committee’s decision. The match ultimately ended in a scoreless tie, with Skellefteå winning in a shootout.
