ZURICH – The IIHF Disciplinary Panel decided to hand out suspensions against player Tomas Horna and assistant coach Mikhail Zvyagin of Kazakh club Beibarys Atyrau. They will miss games at the upcoming Continental Cup tournament.

Both incidents occurred in the last round of the Continental Cup in the game between Beibarys Atyrau and Vaasan Sport from Finland.

Tomas Horna was assessed a match penalty for checking to the head and neck area against Juso Mörsky. By looking over his shoulder, Mörsky didn’t see Horna come and was hit in an extremely vulnerable position and dangerous situation. Mörsky lost consciousness immediately and was transported to the hospital.

Based on the video and the relevant reports, the panel concluded that the infraction was extremely dangerous and the check to the head and neck area that caused a severe injury was deliberate.

Horna, who expressed his sincere apologies to the player and family in a written statement, was already suspended one game during the tournament and will be suspended for three additional games at the upcoming Continental Cup event in Stavanger, Norway, and will thus not be eligible to play at the upcoming four-team tournament in the games against Metallurg Zhlobin, the Stavanger Oilers and KH Sanok.

Assistant coach Mikhail Zvyagin was assessed a match penalty for abuse of officials and unsportsmanlike conduct by team officials when he was yelling at the referee and showing inappropriate gestures for five to ten seconds.

Zvyagin admitted that he lost control over his emotions while questioning the decisions of the officials and apologized to the referee after the game.

The panel is of the opinion that the behaviour of Mr Zvyagin is unacceptable and serious, and that a coach should in any circumstance be aware of the consequences of such behaviour taking into consideration that he fulfils in his function also the task as a role model for his players and fans.

Zvyagin was already suspended for one game and will be suspended for an additional game being the first game of his team in the upcoming Continental Cup tournament in Stavanger, Norway, against Metallurg Zhlobin.