Release from 18.12.2025

One game suspension for Christoph Tialler

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Christoph Tialler of Steinbach Black Wings Linz got suspended for one game and fined 200 Euros due to an incident deemed as an Illegal Check to the Head or Neck (IIHF Rule 48) in Wednesday´s match against HCB Südtirol Alperia.

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Christoph Tialler (#96) of Steinbach Black Wings Linz, time 11:12 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'.

Wednesday night, December 17, in Bozen, Linz defenseman #96 Christoph Tialler was involved in an incident that was ruled an illegal check to the head against Bozen defenseman #68 Michele Marchetti.

As the video shows, Frank banks the puck off the boards with the intention that Marchetti would gain puck possession. However, the puck is intercepted by Roe, and as a result, Marchetti never gains puck possession. Reading the play, Tialler delivers a hit to Marchetti in which the primary point of contact is directly to the head, with the core of the body beeing missed entirely. Additionally, because Marchetti never possessed the puck, he was not eligible to be checked. This is an illegal check to the head. Both required elements of the Check to the Head rule are met on this play.

First, the head is the main point of contact. Tialler’s left shoulder makes direct and forceful contact with the head of Marchetti. Second, the head contact is avoidable. Tialler takes an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Marchetti’s body, bypassing the core and making direct contact with the head. In this situation, Tialler must avoid contact entirely, as Marchetti does not have puck possession. Even if contact were to occur, it must be made through the body and avoid all head contact. Tialler fails to meet this standard.

As a result, the ICE Hockey League Department of Player Safety has suspended Christoph Tialler (#96) for one game and fined 200 euros.

To summarize:

  • This is a check to the head
  • The head contact is avoidable
  • Tialler is not a repeat offender

Next game Christoph Tialler (#96) of Steinbach Black Wings Linz is allowed to play:
21.12.2025 Hydro Fehervar AV 19 vs. Steinbach Black Wings Linz

DOPS provided the following video: