Walker suspended for Illegal Check to the Head

Stars forward receives suspension

On Saturday night in Altrincham, Stars forward #56 Johnny Walker made an illegal check to the head of Storm forward Will Merchant.

As the video shows, Merchant picks up the puck in his defensive zone. While he is breaking out of the zone, being pressured by two Stars players, Merchant makes a play on the puck, passing to a teammate. After the puck is gone, Walker initiates a high hit, making the head the main point of contact on a hit where such head contact was avoidable. This is an illegal check to the head.

It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this hit: firstly, the head is the main point of contact - Walker's shoulder makes contact with the head of Merchant and it is the head that absorbs the majority of the force of this hit. Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable - Walker chooses an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Merchant’s body, missing his core and picking the head. If Walker wants to deliver this hit, he must stay low and choose an angle that leads to a full body check through the shoulder or chest, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.

To Summarise:

• Illegal Hit to the Head
• No History - Walker has neither been suspended nor fined during the 2023/24 EIHL season.

Effective immediately Dundee Stars #56 Johnny Walker is fined and suspended for two games.

Dundee were informed of this suspension at 10:21am on 1 October 2023.