On Wednesday, the SHL suspended Luleå HF left winger Brendan Shinnimin two games for a slewfoot on Skellefteå AIK defenseman Oskar Nilsson in a game that was played Tuesday in Luleå.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdrHyvsXSU[/embed]
The incident occurred with just under four minutes remaining in the third period and Skellefteå leading 4-2 . Both players were assessed offsetting minors for unsportsmanlike conduct. Skellefteå went on to win 5-2.
Shinnimin defended his actions on social media on Wednesday.
“As much as people want to think I tried to hurt Oskar, it’s just not true,” his X post began. “His stick is caught under my arm pulling me back and about to fall very awkwardly on my leg/ankle. Yes I needed to use my arm as leverage on Oskar’s body to keep me up, causing him to lose his balance…..”
“His leg comes up before mine ever touches his,” his next post begins. “I respect Oskar a lot and the way he competes. I had zero intention to put him in a vulnerable position. This is a situation of two players getting tangled up in a battle and falling awkwardly, and thankfully no one is hurt.”
Apparently, this is the latest incident in a long-running feud between the two players that began in 2019 when Shinnimin played for the Växjö Lakers and Nilsson for IK Oskarshamn. On that occasion, a hard hit by Shinnimin caused a punctured lung and a concussion for Nilsson.
The rivalry between the two has intensified now that they play for Luleå and Skellefteå, the SHL’s two most nothern teams who have a long-standing geographical rivalry. Adding to the intesity, the two teams went into Tuesday’s game tied for second in the SHL standings with nine points each.
“I’m tired of him,” Nilsson was quoted after Tuesday’s game. “There’s always something with him. You have to be ready when you meet him, either for a cheap shot or a dive. Those are his specialties, so it’s easy to lose.”
“I asked him afterwards why he was so angry – I don’t remember doing anything on purpose,” Shinniman said post-game. “I had them where I wanted in the third period. I got under their skin and forced them to lose control and come after me. I don’t understand why I was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct there.”
Shinnimin, 33, comes from East St. Paul, Manitoba and played junior hockey for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, where he recorded 134 points in the 2011-12 season. Undrafted, he spent four seasons in the Arizona Coyotes system and played 12 NHL games in 2014-15, recording one assist.
Since 2016 he has played in Europe. Other than Sweden, he’s also had short stints in Switzerland, Kazakhtan (KHL) and Germany. He’s now in his fourth season in Luleå, and has three points in the team’s first five games.
Shinnimin will miss Luleå’s games in Malmö on Thursday and in Ängelholm against Rögle on Saturday. He’s eligible to return October 10 against Örebro. Luleå and Skellefteå don’t meet again until January 30.
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