Release from 14.01.2023

One-game suspension for Andrew MacWilliam (RBS)

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Andrew MacWilliam of the EC Red Bull Salzburg got suspended for one game and fined 200.00 Euros due to an incident deemed as Check to the Head or Neck (IIHF Rule 48) in Friday’s road game at Villach. He will miss Sunday’s game against EC-KAC.

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Andrew MacWilliam (#4) of EC Red Bull Salzburg, time 07:32 was involved in an incident deemed as an Illegal Check to the Head or Neck (IIHF Rule 48). The video evidence was sent to the win2day ICE Hockey League PSC, which determined the incident to be worthy of supplementary discipline - Category 1 - 'Careless'.

Friday night in Villach, Salzburg D'man #4 Andrew MacWilliam was involved in an incident deemed as an illegal check to the head or neck on Villach forward #81 Marco Richter resulting ina5minute major penalty and a game-misconduct being assessed.

As the video shows, Richter is moving up ice, through the neutral zone where the play develops into a 1 on 1 situation with MacWilliam. As Richter dumps the puck in, MacWilliam delivers a forceful shoulder check, that makes head contact with Richter, knocking him to the ice.
This is an illegal check to the head.

It is important to note, that the head is the initial point of contact on this hit. Although MacWilliam does make subsequent contact with Richters body after going through the head. It is clearly Richters head which absorbs the initial and primary brunt of the hit. MacWilliam's right shoulder makes direct and forceful contact through Richters head, altering his head with a degree of force. It is also important to note, head contact on this play is avoidable. MacWilliam has the space and time to deliver this check that hits through Richters shoulder or core. His chosen angle of approach however, in reversing up ice vs angle off approach, forces him to cut across and in front of the body, making the head the initial point of contact.

The ICE Hockey League Department of Player Safety has suspended Andrew MacWilliam for 1 game and fined 200.00 euros. In addition, for the duration of Andrew MacWilliam's suspension EC Red Bull Salzburg also loses one (1) spot for non-domestic players on the game sheet.

To summarize:

  • This is a check to the head
  • Head is the initial point of contact
  • Not a repeat offender

Previous suspension:
none

Next game Andrew MacWilliam (#4) of EC Red Bull Salzburg is allowed to play:
17.01.2023 EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie

DOPS made following video available: