Belfast Giants’ Player/Coach Derrick Walser could find himself in hot water for abusing the officials in charge of Saturday night’s 3-2 Elite League defeat by Nottingham Panthers.

After James Desmarais was penalised for ‘too many men on the ice’, Walser (above) let rip at the officials who threw him out of the game.

Two penalties against Belfast during the third period saw the Panthers capitalise to grab the winner when they had a two-man advantage.

Speaking after the game Walser was adamant the second penalty, awarded against Kris Beech for boarding, was extremely harsh.

He said: “We had a really bad start to the game – we just came out real flat again and it’s something we have got to work on.

“I think we lost the first period, but the second and third we dominated and we played much better than we did the previous night.

“The referee ruined the game – out of six periods he did a good job 85% of the time. 85% he was fantastic, but referees have to learn the importance of games.

“If it’s a penalty that can really turn a game you better be certain it’s a penalty. I’ve watched the video – it’s shoulder to shoulder.

“There’s nothing that Beech could have done but protect himself and the guy goes in the boards. I’m glad he’s not hurt, but Kris Beech did nothing wrong.”

(Image permission: Andy Gibson)