The CHL's Sports Board has ruled to suspend Red Bull Sazburg's Keegan Kanzig two games for an incident that took place in the Austrian club's Game Day 5 clash against HC Bolzano.
Keegan Kanzig (#44) of Red Bull Salzburg, time 36:25, was involved in an incident deemed as an Illegal check to the head or neck (IIHF Rule 48). The video evidence has determined the incident to be worthy of supplementary discipline - Category 2 – ‘Reckless’.
Tuesday night (05.10.2021) in Salzburg, defenseman Kanzig used an illegal action, deemed as Illegal check to the head or neck.
As the video shows, with Bolzano #5, Alex Trivellato, in possession of the puck in the high slot of the Bolzano attacking zone, an unsuspecting body check occurred. Considering immediately before contact occurred, Trivellato had concluded the act of shooting, the body positioning, due to the shot, put Trivellato in a vulnerable position.
It is considered highly probable with the location and scoring opportunity that a body check may occur. What cannot be expected is the manner in which Trivellato was checked.
With Kanzig approaching from an unsuspecting side, the responsibility is on Kanzig to make a legal check through the use of body-to-body contact. Instead, as Kanzig approached in a lateral movement (cross ice), he made left shoulder contact directly to the head area of Trivellato. There was slight elevation up and into the head area of Trivellato, however, although slight elevation occurred, it is not the fundamental cause. It is determined that Kanzig must take a better approach, must avoid head contact and must, while making a body check in this manner, make body to body contact. The head contact Trivellato received did cause an apparent injury at time of incident, however, Trivellato did continue playing in the game.
The CHL Sports Board suspends Keegan Kanzig (#44) of Red Bull Salzburg for two games, effective immediately, and issue a fine of €1,400, effective immediately.
In addition, Kanzig will be considered a repeat offender in the event supplementary discipline is required within the CHL.