An ice hockey player in the United Kingdom's Elite League has received a 20-match ban after he abused a match official before punching a spectator.

Matt Nickerson of the Milton Keynes Lightning was involved in the unsavoury incidents during his side's match against the Guildford Flames on Sunday.

A ruling from the league's Department of Player Safety (DOPS) stated: "Nickerson left the players bench to entertain a possible physical altercation with an opposing player. In his lengthy venture to engage an opponent, Nickerson did not follow instructions from the game officials, and physically broke free of the linesman to try to engage an opposing player on multiple occasions."

According to the DOPS, the American then "delivered a forceful backhand punch directly to the head of the [unsuspecting] fan."

Nickerson was banned for six matches over his abuse of an official, with an additional 14-match suspension for "engaging with a spectator".