Dixon suspended for check to the head

Devils forward receives suspension

On Sunday night in Coventry, Devils forward Stephen Dixon was assessed a Major and Game Misconduct penalty for an illegal check to the head on Blaze defenceman Dane Gibson.   

As the video shows, Gibson and Dixon are in a race for the loose puck, which Dixon wins and chips the puck forwards. Dixon continues his skating path towards Gibson and delivers a high hit to Gibson, making his head the main point of contact on a hit where such head contact is avoidable. This is an illegal check to the head.

It is important to note that the head is the main point of contact on this hit. Whilst we acknowledge that Dixon attempts to make a legal body check on Gibson and the contact does graze Gibson's upper chest simultaneously with the head contact, the brunt of the force of this hit is delivered by Dixon’s shoulder to Gibson's head. It is also important to note that head contact was avoidable. Rather than delivering a shoulder-to-shoulder check that hits directly through Gibson's core, Dixon elevates up and into the head making it the main point of contact. If Dixon wants to make this hit he must do so in a manner that ensures he does so through Gibson's shoulder and core and not extend upwards unnecessarily into the hit, ensuring that he avoids making the head the main point of contact.

To summarise:

• Illegal check to the head
• Dixon has neither been fined nor suspended during the 21/22 EIHL Season.

Effective immediately, Cardiff Devils #11 Stephen Dixon is fined ad suspended for one game.

The Devils were informed at 11:06 today.