Two fans disrespectfully use plane crash and death of player to mock opposing team and get banned

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Daniel Lucente
November 1, 2024 (12:26)

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Two fans faced punishment for using the 2011 death of Stefan Liv in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to mock the opposing team. They were quickly banned for their actions.

Hockey possesses this amazing ability to unite people and showcase the absolute best of the human spirit. The flip side of that coin, of course, is that it sometimes exposes fans at their worst. A recent incident that occurred in Sweden epitomizes this sad reality, as two fans of the SHL carried out a heinous act designed to make fun of a recently deceased goaltender.

Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Stefan Liv never played in the NHL but proved to be an extremely popular goaltender with HV71 in the SHL, for whom he played most of his professional career. It wasn't until 2011 that Liv joined the KHL in Russia, and before he could really have an impact there, he and 42 other fellow teammates, coaches, and youth players died in a plane crash en route to the team's regular-season opener. Some of hockey's most recognizable losses were the passing of former NHL players Brad McCrimmon, Pavol Demitra, and Ruslan Salei, all of whom died in this tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the sport.

Today, Stefan Liv's memory is still honored through memorials. However, during a recent SHL game between HV71 and Linkoping, two Linkoping fans took an absolutely reprehensible way to gain an advantage: flashing pictures of the late Stefan Liv in an attempt to unsettle the HV71 players. They immediately received the fire of the league, and the most severe punishment doled out by the SHL was a two-year ban against them from league games. The police work of the Linkoping team itself played a great role in finding the offenders and bringing them to justice.

"We watched several films and through our security officer, Max Lundgren, were able to identify these people. We have contacted them and have also had an oral meeting with them to try to understand what they were thinking."

It is unthinkable that people would be able to stoop that low out of simple rivalry. Hockey rivalries bring excitement and passion into the game, but there is a clear limit between fierce competition and cruelty. These two fans crossed that line in an egregious way, and with the two-year ban, although big, it feels insufficient for the gravity of their offense; a lifetime ban should have been the least it went for since few actions could better merit permanent exclusion from the sport.

But in the end, the incident will be remembered: that sportsmanship shall never be compromised, whatever the rivalry of the game is. Hockey can inspire respect and camaraderie, and it is just that spirit of the game that truly deserves respect to keep its integrity intact.