Russian defenceman Vladislav Syomin suspended by IIHF

Michael Traikos joins Jeff Blair to offer some reasons why the World Junior Hockey Championship seems to be lacking in attendance, and how to boost the tournament back to its former glory.

Russian defenceman Vladislav Syomin has been suspended one game by the IIHF for a hit to the head in Tuesday’s quarter-final loss to the United States at the world juniors.

Syomin was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct at 17:11 of the first period for a check to the head of Team USA winger Max Jones, who was slow to get up from the hit but remained in the game.

The IIHF website says Syomin’s hit “was both unnecessary and dangerous, and recklessly put the health of the opponent at risk.”

As Russia has already been eliminated from the world juniors, the 19-year-old blue-liner will serve the suspension in the next IIHF tournament he takes part in.

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