The Ice Hockey Championship League has announced details on the penalties for tackles to the head. A clear Tackling to the head will still be cited as a five-game ban, and the penalty can also be increased if the tackler’s actions show reprehensibility.
However, the disciplinary delegation has room for maneuver and can take into account the conditions of the game situation and the actions of the players in the situation. There is room for maneuver, for example, in situations where the strength of the contact is low or the actions of the player causing the hit are low.
The suspension can therefore also be assessed as lasting less than five matches. However, the league emphasizes that it has no intention of softening its stance on head tackles.
The chairman of the league’s disciplinary delegation Sampo Liusjärvi according to, there is no intention to make a big change.
– Every situation involves an interpretation. There are no identical situations. The development of each game situation is unique, as are the movements of the players. They are viewed as a whole and the players’ actions are evaluated, Liusjärvi stated.
According to Liusjärvi, the old policy, in which a tackle on the head automatically resulted in a suspension of at least five matches, was not completely successful.
– The first decision was too categorical, it did not recognize the diversity of situations. It has already been specified a few times before this.
According to Liusjärvi, the policy has been reviewed with the sports directors of the clubs.
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