The Ontario Hockey League came down hard on Owen Sound Attack forward Mike Halmo on Friday for his hit on Sarnia Sting winger Nail Yakupov.
Halmo, Owen Sound’s captain, was suspended 10 games by the league for a hit to the head of the Sarnia star forward. On the play Halmo caught Yakupov cutting across the middle of the ice with his head down and reaching for the puck, clipping him in the head with his elbow.
Yakupov was injured on the play and is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. He will be re-evaluated before the playoffs.
Halmo, 20, was given a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. The 20-year-old Waterloo, Ont., native has 40 goals and 85 points to go along with 162 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Attack this season.
