In an incident reported by Aftonbladet, experienced Norwegian hockey player Mathis Olimb lost his temper during a playoff match while representing Vålerenga against Frisk Asker in the Norwegian top league. Following the breakage of his stick, Olimb threw the piece, unintentionally hitting Frisk Asker's assistant coach, Michael Smithurst, in the face, resulting in a bleeding injury on the coach's forehead.

Olimb attempted to explain his actions by stating that he had no control over where the stick would land and expressed regret for the injury. However, this explanation was met with skepticism from experts, including Erik Follestad from Norway TV2, who called Olimb's justification "bullshit" and asserted that a responsible player would have dropped the broken stick on the ice rather than throwing it at others. Follestad further speculated that Olimb would likely face a suspension as a consequence of his actions.

The incident raises questions regarding player conduct in high-stakes games and the responsibility athletes have towards their opponents and officials. Such reckless behavior could not only endanger the health and safety of others but also tarnish the reputation of the sport, leading to calls for stricter penalties and better enforcement of player discipline in professional leagues.