Pair banned for mid-game hug, beer

Two players from the Federal Hockey League in the US have been controversially suspended after a confrontation between the pair ended with the players hugging and drinking a beer.

Footage of the match shows the players - Danville's Matt Puntureri and Dayton's Jesse Felten - circling each other preparing to fight with the Dayton Demonz leading 4-0 with just 10 minutes to go in the final game of the season.

Instead of exchanging blows, they suddenly embrace and one of the players pulls a beer from under his shirt and toasts the crowd before the pair skate off together.

FHL Commissioner Don Kirnan explained that the players were suspended for bringing a beer into the rink.

"I mean, if they wanted to hug and kiss each other on the ice, that’s fine," Kirnan he told the National Post.

"That wouldn’t have bothered us. But you can’t bring a beer on the ice."