HELSINKI – The IIHF Disciplinary Panel has suspended Finland’s defenceman Anssi Salmela for three games following his violent boarding on USA’s defenceman Alex Goligoski.

The incident occurred at 5:03 of the third period in Finland’s preliminary-round game against the United States on Sunday.

Anssi Salmela received a five-minute major plus an automatic game misconduct penalty for a violent boarding that caught Goligoski in a defenseless and vulnerable position and which resulted in Goligoski hitting his upper body, head and face into the boards.

The panel especially took into consideration the ruthlessness of the act, which could have resulted in a serious injury, which now Goligoski was fortunate to escape.

Upon review of the incident, based on video review and statements from the involved parties, Anssi Salmela received a three-game suspension and he will thus sit out Finland’s remaining game in the preliminary round against Kazakhstan today, the quarter-final on Thursday and a possible semi-final.

With this, the Disciplinary Panel underscores the mandate handed to it by the IIHF to take all necessary measures to protect the safety of players and the integrity of the game.