Ciampini suspended for three games

Steelers forward receives suspension

On Sunday night in Coventry, Steelers forward #12 Daniel Ciampini made an illegal cross-check on Blaze defenseman Jakob Stridsberg.

After taking a hit behind the net which could be deemed as a minor penalty, Daniel Ciampini embellishes the contact in an attempt to draw a penalty. Ciampini then takes matters into his own hands and delivers not one but two cross-checks to Coventry’s Jakob Stridsberg: the first in the lower back, and the second to the back of the head/neck area of Stridsberg. This is cross-checking.

It is important to note there are a number of factors that separate this play from other cross-checking violations elevating the incident to merit this level of supplemental discipline. This is not an inadvertent or accidental use of the stick while leveraging for body position or other hockey purposes, where players can reasonably expect escalated contact, or for both players’ sticks to come up high or other hockey purposes.

Ciampini had sufficient opportunity to engage in a different manner or deliver a second cross-check to the body. Instead, fully in control of this play at all times, Ciampini chooses to deliver a second cross-check to the head and neck area of Stridsberg, approaching from behind and delivering a forceful strike to an opponent's head/neck area. In short, this is not a hockey play. This is an intentional and forceful strike to an opponent's head using his stick as a weapon to take retribution. 

To Summarise:

• Cross-Checking
• Intentional and forceful strike to an opponent's head/neck area

Effective immediately Sheffield Steelers' Daniel Ciampini is fined and suspended for three games.