Two-game suspension for Alex Curti

Alex Curti (#15) of Hockey Unterland Cavaliers, time 04:38, made contact with an opponent deemed as Boarding, IIHF Rule 41. 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 8th, in Neumarkt, Unterland D'Man #15 Alex Curti was assessed a 2-minute minor penalty for an incident, deemed as boarding on Cortina forward #21 Riccardo Lacedelli, resulting in an apparent injury.

As the video shows, Alex Curti is engaged in a battle for the puck at the end boards. After Cortina has won this battle and has a shot on the net, the puck deflects off the goaltender and goes to the side boards. The Cortina D'Man is pinching down from the blue line and chipping the puck deep into his attacking zone. Within a race for the puck, Curti is located directly behind Lacedelli, who is going to win the race for the puck. At a dangerous distance from the boards Curti has his stick in both hands, parallel to the ice and delivers a reckless push to Lacedelli's back. This push is located right above the pant-line of Lacedelli, who is unable to protect himself of the impact at the boards.

This is boarding.

It is important to note, that Curti delivers this push not through a legal means for 2 reasons. First, the push was not delivered through the use of his hip or shoulder and as a result, used an illegal means by using his stick to deliver a reckless and dangerous push. Secondly, a player not in possession of the puck is not allowed to be checked. The delivery point of contact is a dangerous distance from the boards and right above the pant-line which leaves Lacedelli no way to protect himself and propels him head first into the boards.

If Curti wants to deliver a hit on this play, he must wait until Lacedelli is in possession of the puck and he must skate to position himself in a way that allows him to make a hit through the use of his hip or shoulder.

Effective immediately, the Alps Hockey League Department of Player Safety has suspended Alex Curti for 2 games.

To summarize:

• This is boarding
• Opponent unable to protect himself
• Dangerous distance from the boards

Previous suspensions:
none

Next game Alex Curti (#15) of Hockey Unterland Cavaliers is allowed to play:
20.10.2022 Hockey Unterland Cavaliers vs. Rittner Buam SkyAlps

DOPS make following video available: