Allen suspended for Illegal Check to the Head

Stars defenseman receives suspension

On Saturday night at the Vindico Arena, with 06:52 remaining in the first period, Stars defenceman Sean Allen made an illegal check to the head on Devils Forward Ben Davies.

As the video shows, Davies is skating through the neutral zone where he takes a pass from a teammate just inside the red line, and immediately plays it forwards into his attacking zone. Davies continues his skating line towards his offensive zone, when Allen arrives and delivers a high, hard body check that makes 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 play. First, the head is the main point of contact as Allen’s shoulder makes direct contact with Davies' head; and it is the head that absorbs the majority of the force of the check. Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable. Allen chooses to deliver a hit on a player missing his core and picking his head, on a play where he had other options available to him.

To Summarise:

• Illegal Check to the Head
• History. Allen has previously been fined and suspended during the EIHL 2023/24 season - 26 December 2023 - Checking from Behind

Effective immediately Dundee Stars #4 Sean Allen is fined and suspended for two games.