During the last minute of Russia's 3-1 win over Sweden at today's World Championship semifinals, Russian coach Oleg Znarok got into a shouting match with Swedish coach Rikard Gronborg. The two were discussing Mikael Backlund's charging penalty against Sergei Plotkinov, and gestures were exchanged.
Put simply, Znarok gave Gronborg the throat-slitting sign, and Gronborg responded in the universal language of hockey, stating, "I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU." Expressen's Magnus Nystrom found a video of the exchange:
According to Expressen's Jens Dahlqvist and Mattias Ek, Sweden's considering petitioning the IIHF to act given that the Russian coach issued a death threat to a Swedish coach (GM Tommy Boustedt says that Gronborg has dual American and Swedish citizenship) in Belarus, and coach Par Marts simply suggested that such comments should be forbidden in a rink (on both sides).
Update: Risto Pakarinen And Miika Arponen found out what's going to happen to Znarok, per IIHF rules:
Znarok should be prohibited from coaching in tomorrow's game. Don't bet on it in Belarus, however.
Update #2: Rather hilariously, Expressen reports that Znarok's excuse for his comments involves "having a sore throat."
added 6:30pm, Watch the video below as the Russian coach explains his "sore throat"...
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