The IIHF has handed out one-game suspensions to Russia forward Mikhail Abramov and Germany forward Justin Volek, meaning both will miss Saturday’s world junior championship quarterfinals.
Abramov was disciplined for slew-footing Swedish forward Arvid Costmar in the second period of Russia’s 4-3 win on Dec. 30. Volek received punishment for cross-checking Swiss defenceman Noah Meier, delivering “a significant blow to the neck area,” in the third period of Germany’s 5-4 victory on the same day.
The IIHF’s disciplinary panel determined the actions of Abramov and Volek “recklessly endangered the safety” of the opposing players, resulting in the bans.
Abramov, a fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, has two assists in two games so far in the tournament. Volek has one assist and 27 penalty minutes in four games for Germany.
Russia and Germany face off in the first of Saturday’s four quarterfinals in the Edmonton bubble.
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