Three games suspension for Lois Fink

Lois Fink (#93) of Rittner Buam SkyAlps, time 16:30, made contact with an opponent deemed as Illegal Check to the Head or Neck, IIHF Rule 48. Based on the video evidence, it is determined the incident to be worthy of supplementary discipline - Category 2 – ‘Reckless’ – a deliberate and/or dangerous action with no concern for the result, with a conscious action to provoke, through intent and a willful purpose. Injury is not the determining factor but can be considered as influential means to the decision.

Saturday night, October 7th, in Ritten, Ritten center #93 Lois Fink was involved in an incident deemed as an illegal check to the head or neck on Lustenau center-man #23 Adem Kandemir, resulting in a 5-minute major penalty and a Game-Misconduct being assessed by the on-ice officials.

As the video shows, Kandemir is in possession of the puck in his D'Zone trying to build up the play by gaining speed and circling behind his net and Fink skating behind him but crossing in front of the net. Directly behind the net Kandemir plays a pass to his teammate on the left side and continues to skate with speed in the direction of the end-zone face-off dot, still looking at the puck. At the moment Kandemir crosses the goal-line he gets hit by Fink, who shows no regard for the puck and elevates into the hit making Kandemir's head the main point of contact.

This is an illegal check to the head or neck.

It is important to note, this is not a case of inadvertent contact that can occur during a hit on a player. On this play Fink sees Kandemir passing the puck to his teammate and knows Kandemir is no longer eligible to be checked. Instead of altering his skating lane and trying to get to the new puck-carrier, Fink chooses to deliver a forceful hit on a non-puck-carrier. The reason for supplementary discipline is not only, the hit being late, the hit was delivered in a manner where Fink elevates into the hit making the head of Kandemir the main point of contact.
Effective immediately, Lois Fink (#93) of Rittner Buam SkyAlps is suspended for 3 games.

To summarize:
- This is an illegal check to the head or neck
- Head is main point of contact
- Forceful and late

Previous suspensions:
none

Next game Lois Fink (#93) of Rittner Buam SkyAlps is allowed to play:
21.10.2023 HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. Rittner Buam SkyAlps