HELSINKI – The 2013 IIHF Independent Disciplinary Panel has issued a one-game suspension to Latvia forward Zemgus Girgensons for butt-ending his stick on a Slovak player. Girgensons will miss his team’s next game on Saturday, 11 May against Germany. The incident occurred during at 15:47 of first period in the game between Slovakia and Latvia on Thursday evening, with the score 2-1 for Latvia. In retaliation to a check by Slovak defenceman Branislav Mezei, Girgensons hit Mezei in the stomach with the butt end of his stick. The game ended with a 5-3 victory for the Latvians. After reviewing the video evidence and the respective reports including the referee supervisor report and the report from the hearing with the player, the Disciplinary Panel decided to suspend Girgensons for one game. The play was determined to be an infraction of rule 521b “Butt-Ending” of the IIHF Rulebook. Girgensons will return for his team's game against France.