Release from 05.10.2024

One game suspension for David Keefer

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David Keefer of the Pioneers Vorarlberg was suspended for one game and fined 200.00 euros due to an incident deemed as Spearing (IIHF Rule 62) in Friday´s match against Salzburg. The 26-year-old US-American will therefore miss Saturday´s match against Olimpija Ljubljana.

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David Keefer (#7) of Pioneers Vorarlberg, time 53:13 was involved in an incident deemed as Spearing (IIHF Rule 62). 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 Feldkirch, Pioneers center man #7 David Keefer was involved in an incident deemed as spearing on Salzburg center man #70 Benjamin Nissner whereby the on-ice officials did not assess a penalty.

As the video shows, immediately following a center ice face-off, Keefer makes an initial movement in the direction of Nissner, in which Nissner delivers a light shove to the arm of Keefer. Keefer reacts, by pulling his stick back and drives the point of the stick blade into the core of Nissner, in a stabbing motion, causing him to fall to the ice.

This is Spearing.

It is important to note, Keefer chose to deliver this strike in a retaliatory manner. What causes this play to rise to the level of supplementary discipline is the intent, the amount of force and the area of the body where contact was made. This is not deemed accidental or inadvertent contact. This is not light contact of an attempt to restrain an opponent of an attempt to limit the opponent’s movement. Keefer intentionally drives his stick both up and into the core of Nissner with force.

The ICE Hockey League Department of Player Safety has suspended David Keefer for 1 game and fined 200.00 euros.

To summarize:

  • This is spearing
  • Direct stick contact
  • Not a repeat offender

Previous suspension:
none

Next game David Keefer (#7) of Pioneers Vorarlberg is allowed to play:
11.10.2024 EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV vs. Pioneers Vorarlberg

DOPS provided the following video: