Ex-NHLer Nick Ritchie Suspended 8 Games in Liiga for Repeated Opponent Punching
Ex-NHLer Nick Ritchie Suspen...
Subscribe to Newsletter

Ex-NHLer Nick Ritchie Suspended 8 Games in Liiga for Repeated Opponent Punching

30 December 2023
3625
2 min.
6
Ex-NHLer Nick Ritchie Suspended 8 Games in Liiga for Repeated Opponent Punching

Ritchie's Reign of Fists

In a dramatic turn of events during his 10th game with Karpat in the Liiga season, former NHL forward Nick Ritchie, 28, finds himself suspended for eight games. The suspension stems from a heated incident in which Ritchie repeatedly punched TPS forward Markus Nurmi in the head.

In the December 28th matchup between Karpat and TPS, with less than two minutes left in the second period, Nick Ritchie and TPS forward Markus Nurmi engaged in a physical battle along the boards. Despite Karpat leading 4-3, tensions rose as Ritchie pushed Nurmi to the ice and delivered a series of head punches, dislodging Nurmi's helmet.

It's crucial to note that fighting is strictly prohibited in international hockey, including the Liiga in Finland. Ritchie, already facing holding and cross-checking penalties earlier in the game, was deemed the aggressor under Rule 46.4 of the Liiga and IIHF rulebook. The consequences were severe, with Ritchie receiving a five-minute major penalty and a 20-minute game misconduct.

Ritchie has the option to appeal the eight-game suspension, adding a layer of uncertainty to his immediate future with Karpat. The incident raises questions about sportsmanship and adherence to the rules of international play.

From Orangeville, Ontario, Nick Ritchie, selected 10th overall in the 2014 NHL draft by the Anaheim Ducks, has played 481 NHL games, contributing to teams like the Ducks, Bruins, Maple Leafs, Coyotes, and Flames. Joining Karpat this season after a St. Louis Blues PTO release, he's recorded one goal and five assists in 10 games.

Despite Ritchie's actions, Karpat secured a 5-3 victory in the game. The incident highlights the challenges of maintaining discipline and fair play in a sport known for its physical intensity.

Interestingly, this recent incident follows a pattern of disciplinary actions in the league, with Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson also facing suspension for an altercation with Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins earlier in the season. As the league addresses these incidents, it underscores the ongoing importance of enforcing rules to maintain the integrity of the game.

Persons4 and Companies2 in the news

Canadian professional ice hockey centre
1 place
Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman
2 place
Finnish professional ice hockey forward
3 place
Canadian professional ice hockey forward
4 place
Section:
Source foto:
flickr.com

NEW YORK NEWS

News from GlobalNY.biz is the freshest and most relevant information about high-profile events in the region. The task of the resource's news feed is to convey to readers with maximum accuracy and objectivity information about important events in business, politics, economy, healthcare, culture and other spheres of life in New York.
GlobalNY.biz news is a coverage of economic processes taking place in New York, the latest news of public life, incidents and an overview of political events. New York news is information about the activities of small and medium-sized businesses, the work of housing and communal services and utilities, the implementation of significant projects.
The site's journalists describe not only the life of the region, but also talk about the current state of the US economy. Everything you need to know about innovations in the field of industry and agriculture, economy and power is collected in the "News" section at GlobalNY.biz.
New York news quickly informs the reader, shows the real picture and opens up hot topics. Communication with government structures and business enables us to provide our readers with reliable, information-rich material. The main page of the portal contains the key news of New York!
Alena Potapova

Development Director
Population
8164316788
Died this year
49649262
Born this year
122145972