Naslund suspended for three games
Stars defenseman receives suspension
On Wednesday night in Belfast, Dundee Stars Erik Naslund extended his left leg, making forceful knee on knee contact on a check that was avoidable with Giants forward Scott Conway, knocking him to the ice, for which he was assessed a Major and Game Misconduct.
As the video shows, Conway retrieves the puck in his defensive zone and breaks out of the zone, with Naslund closing in on him in a defensive play, making a pass to a teammate as he reaches the top of the circles. After Conway releases the puck, Naslund continues towards Conway and hits him with an extended left knee, making dangerous knee to knee contact through a check that was avoidable. This is Kneeing.
It is important to note that this play is directly in front of Naslund and he is in control of how any body contact is delivered. Thus, the onus is entirely on him to make a full legal body check or avoid the contact altogether. This play cannot be classified as a collision between two players where one or both move reactively or defensively at the last moment to avoid contact. With Conway no longer in possession of the puck and outside of the acceptable window - both time frame and distance - where a player may still be considered eligible to be checked legally, Naslund approaches Conway in a wide skating stance, leaving his extended left knee out, and drives into Conway resulting in a dangerous and direct knee on knee contact which causes Conway to fall to the ice.
To summarise:
- This is Kneeing
- No History - Naslund has neither been fined or suspended during the 2022/23 Elite League Season.
Effective immediately, Dundee Stars #5 Erik Naslund is fined and suspended for three (3) games.
The Stars were informed of this decision at 15:46 on Thursday.
