Joe Veleno, a forward for Canada’s men’s national ice hockey team, has been suspended for five games by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) after he appeared to stomp on the ankle of Nino Niederreiter from Switzerland, during a game on 20 May. The incident took place in the second period of the game, and Veleno did not receive a penalty at the time. However, Niederreiter of Switzerland received a penalty for going after Veleno and pushing him to the ice.
Following the game, the IIHF reviewed the incident and concluded that Veleno had violated Rule No. 49 (kicking). As a result, the governing body handed Veleno a five-game suspension that would include the quarter, semi and final games, should Canada progress to that point of the tournament. Veleno has since issued a statement apologising for his actions and accepting the sanctions from the IIHF. Canada’s national team general manager, Doug Armstrong, also released a statement in which he acknowledged the decision of the committee and said the team supported it.
This is not Veleno’s first suspension by the IIHF; he sat out one game in 2019 for headbutting a defenseman in a game against Team Russia. The incident could have long-term consequences for Veleno, as there is a chance he may never be selected to play for Team Canada again. The suspension will also prevent him from representing his team in the remainder of the World Championships.
Veleno’s suspension is a reminder that rough play and bad sportsmanship can have serious consequences in the world of professional sports. While intense competition is a hallmark of ice hockey, there is no room for dangerous or harmful play on the ice. The IIHF’s decision sends a strong message to players that any such behaviour will not be tolerated, and that players need to hold themselves to a higher standard of behaviour both on and off the ice.
In other news, Germany claimed a 2-0 victory over Hungary at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, to secure the team’s third consecutive win. The win puts them in fourth place in the Group A standings ahead of France in the last day of the preliminary round. The United States also maintained their perfect record in Group A with a 9-0 win over France. Meanwhile, Switzerland topped Group B with six victories from six games after beating the Czech Republic 4-2.
While the tournament has seen many exciting moments, Veleno’s suspension reminds hockey fans and players alike that sportsmanship and respect are just as important as skill and athleticism on the ice. Moving forward, it is up to individual players to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, and for the IIHF and other governing bodies to enforce those standards when necessary.
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