IIHF suspends Sweden’s Leo Loof one game for illegal hit at world juniors

Sweden's Leo Lööf and Simon Edvinsson fight for control of the puck with Russia's Nikita Guslistov during second period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship action in Red Deer, Alberta on Sunday, December 26, 2021. CP/file)

The International Ice Hockey Federation has suspended Sweden defenceman Leo Lööf one game for a check to the head of Slovakia defenceman Simon Nemec.

The incident occurred in the third period of Sweden’s 3-0 win over Slovakia on Monday in Red Deer, Alta.

As Nemec approached the Swedish blue line, Lööf hit the Slovak defenceman while elevating his arms towards Nemec’s head. Nemec hit the boards and fell to the ice as a result of the hit.

The IIHF’s disciplinary panel said Lööf showed no regard for the puck when delivering the hit and recklessly endangered Nemec.

Sweden was scheduled to face the United States on Wednesday.

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