The CHL's Sports Board has ruled to suspend IFK Helsinki's Olli Palola one game for an incident that took place in the Finnish club's Game Day 1 clash with ZSC Lions Zurich.

Palola was issued a 5+game penalty at 46:00 for elbowing. The Sports Board deemed the incident to be worthy of supplementary discipline under IIHF Rule 45 (Elbowing), at the Category 1 level (Careless – insufficient attention or thought to avoid harm or error).

As the video below shows, after an attacking zone turnover, Zurich gained puck possession by chipping the puck around the corner boards to the area of Zurich's Marco Pedretti.

With Pedretti being a lefthand shot, skating back to make a reverse play and Pedretti’s right body side to open ice, the body check Palola delivered is considered from the blindside.

Palola is permitted to make a body check in this circumstance, however, the check must be delivered in a legal manner. Considering the check was delivered from the unsuspecting side of Pedretti, the onus is on Palola to deliver a legal check.

The reason for supplementary discipline, is the check that Palola delivered is deemed illegal. Instead of delivering the body check through the use of his shoulder, Palola instead raised his left arm/elbow to the head area of Pedretti.

As a result, the CHL Board has ruled to suspend IFK Helsinki's Olli Palola for one game and issue a fine of €700, effective immediately.

Video explanation