Villach forward Maxime Golod suspended for three games

Maxime Golod (#74) of EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV, time 17:55 was involved in an incident deemed as Interference (IIHF Rule 56). The video evidence was sent to the win2day ICE Hockey League PSC, which determined the incident to be worthy of supplementary discipline - Category 2 - 'Reckless'.

Thursday night in Bozen, Villach forward #74 Maxime Golod delivered a hit on Bozen forward #94 Daniel Frank. Resulting in an apparent injury.

As the video shows, Frank gains puck possession and skates up ice releasing a pass at the blue line. As a left hand shot, pass cutting across and Frank having more focus to his left side and ahead on the play, Golod approaches from behind, with speed and on the right side, delivering a check half way between the blue and red line. The hit was delivered late in an overly forceful manner and in addition, made head to head contact.

This is interference.

It is important to note, players who are not in possession of the puck are never eligible to be checked. However, the Interference rule provides a brief window where a player who initiates a check while his opponent is in possession of the puck may finish the hit. This is not such a play. Here, Golod begins his hitting motion after Frank has released the puck (visible by the load up to the right to explode to the left) and contact is made outside the window where a check maybe legally finished. In addition to the lateness, what causes this hit to rise to the level of supplementary discipline is the significant force to the upper body, combined with force of the blow and the head of Golod making direct contact with the head of Frank. Golod had a objectively reasonable window of opportunity to at least minimize or avoid this hit.

The ICE Hockey League Department of Player Safety has suspended Maxime Golod for 3 games and fined 750,00 euros.

To summarize:

• This is interference
• Contact to opponent's head
• Late hit

Previous suspension:
none

Next game Maxime Golod (#74) of EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV is allowed to play:
TBA

DOPS provided the following video: