On Thursday, authorities released six Slovenian hockey players who beat up their American coach after winning the league title.
According to The Associated Press, Mike Posma — who played in the AHL and has been the coach of Acroni Jesenice since last year — was cut and bruised by his players but was not seriously injured last Saturday, after the team won its third consecutive league title.
The team terminated the offending players' contracts and suspended further contract talks with Posma, who returned to the U.S. on Thursday.
Reports indicate that the six players — as well as Posma — were drunk while celebrating, and the players were angry at Posma for allegedly telling a 19-year-old backup goaltender to drive a car, despite the fact that he, too, was drinking. The goaltender then crashed the car.
The players allegedly beat the coach with wooden traffic signs they found on the side of the road.
Five of the six players defended themselves earlier this week, saying they merely tried to convince Posma to go to the police and take blame for the accident.
