Hockey Player Banned

Left wing Gary Coupal of the Muskegon Fury was banned for life by the United Hockey League Tuesday for throwing his broken stick into the stands.

Coupal was penalized for spearing toward the end of a game Sunday against the Quad City Mallards at Moline, Ill.

League commissioner Richard Brosal said Coupal argued the penalty, earning a 10-minute misconduct. As a linesman was leading him off the ice, Coupal broke his fiberglassed stick over his knee, then threw it into the crowd, Brosal said.

The stick, which remained intact, didn’t hit anyone.