photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Matt Zambonin
The 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championship Disciplinary Panel has issued a two (2) game suspension to Latvia’s Dans Locmelis (#11) for an illegal check to the head on USA’s Ryan Leonard (#9).
The incident occurred at 55:23 in the 3rd period of Game #23 between USA and Latvia.
The Championship Disciplinary Panel determined that the Player delivered a reckless hit on a vulnerable and unsuspecting opponent who was in a completely defenseless position, while the opponent’s head was the primary point of contact. Therefore, the Player’s actions constituted a violation of Official Playing Rule 48 (Illegal Check to the Head or Neck).
Team Latvia was eliminated from the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship following the 7-2 quarter final loss to USA. Given that the Player, due to his age, is not eligible to play in next year’s World Juniors, the two-game suspension shall apply to Latvia’s first two games of the 2024 IIHF World Championship. Specifically, should the Player be selected to play for Latvia, he will be ineligible to compete in the first two preliminary round games of the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
If the Player is not named on Latvia’s team roster for the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, the suspension shall be served during the first two games of the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for which the Player is on the team roster.
The incident occurred at 55:23 in the 3rd period of Game #23 between USA and Latvia.
The Championship Disciplinary Panel determined that the Player delivered a reckless hit on a vulnerable and unsuspecting opponent who was in a completely defenseless position, while the opponent’s head was the primary point of contact. Therefore, the Player’s actions constituted a violation of Official Playing Rule 48 (Illegal Check to the Head or Neck).
Team Latvia was eliminated from the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship following the 7-2 quarter final loss to USA. Given that the Player, due to his age, is not eligible to play in next year’s World Juniors, the two-game suspension shall apply to Latvia’s first two games of the 2024 IIHF World Championship. Specifically, should the Player be selected to play for Latvia, he will be ineligible to compete in the first two preliminary round games of the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
If the Player is not named on Latvia’s team roster for the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, the suspension shall be served during the first two games of the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for which the Player is on the team roster.