Islanders' Yablonski fights Canadiens' Spacek during the third period of play in their NHL pre-season hockey game in Quebec City
New York Islanders Jeremy Yablonski fights Montreal Canadiens Jaroslav Spacek (R) during the third period of play in their NHL pre-season hockey game in Quebec City Reuters

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) banned Vityaz Chekhov's Canadian forward Jeremy Yablonski for the rest of the season on Tuesday, effectively ending his playing career in Russia.

The KHL initially suspended Yablonski, known better for his fists than goals, for eight games following a brawl during Saturday's game against Traktor Chelyabinsk but later decided to increase the penalty, calling him a repeat offender.

He had already served a 10-game ban. Enough is enough, we're not going to tolerate such loutish behavior, KHL boss Alexander Medvedev told reporters after a disciplinary hearing.

Canadian Christopher Brennan, Yablonski's team mate, had his suspension extended from 12 to 15 games for his role in the same incident.

He's also a repeat offender, Medvedev said.

Vityaz coach Andrei Nazarov received what Medvedev called the biggest fine in the history of our league for failing to prevent his players fighting.

Yablonski, 31, along with compatriots Brennan and Jon Mirasty, joined Vityaz in July after playing for the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2007 to 2010.

He has played in only one NHL game, receiving a major penalty for fighting, and also fought in a professional mixed martial arts competition in 2007.

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