As sports betting becomes legal in more places, professional sports leagues have had to implement new measures against players’ gambling.
We’ve seen multiple instances of it in the NFL already, however, Thursday marked the first instance in the NHL.
The league announced Thursday morning that Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto had been suspended for 41 games for gambling, but clarified that Pinto didn’t gamble on NHL games.
Pinto released a statement shortly after the news broke, saying, “I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa, and most importantly my family. I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team.”
The Senators also released a statement, saying, “Shane is a valued member of our hockey club; an engaging, intelligent young man who made poor decisions that have resulted in a suspension by the National Hockey League. We know he is remorseful for his mistakes. The Ottawa Senators fully support the NHL’s rules on gambling. While saddened to learn of this issue, the entire organization remains committed to Shane and will work together to do what is necessary to help provide the support to allow him to address his issues and become a strong contributor to our community.”
Pinto is eligible to return to the Senators on January 21 against the Philadelphia Flyers. In 99 career games, he has recorded 21 goals and 22 assists.
[NHL.com]
About Robert O'Neill