Nick Ritchie misses the next eight games.
Nick Ritchie whistles the next matches. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
Oulu Kärppie NHL confirmation Nick Ritchie has received an eight-match ban from the SM League’s disciplinary delegation, The SM league informs on its website.
Ritchie completely messed up in Wednesday’s TPS match when he hammered TPS with his fist Markus Nurmea to the neck.
Nurmi did not try to respond to Ritchie’s actions, but tried to protect himself in a so-called turtle position.
According to the disciplinary delegation, Ritchie hit Nurme five times around the neck and head. The Canadian still hit after the linesman intervened.
– Ritchie is guilty of one-sided, deliberate and non-spontaneous violence with the actions described above.
The disciplinary delegation continues that Ritchie’s actions do not belong to hockey in any way.
– The action in question – hitting the opponent on the neck/head, who does not know how to expect the punch at all – is completely against the respect of the opponent, and furthermore, such action is also against the so-called hockey’s internal code.
In the match, Ritchie received a shower command for his trick. The incident has sparked several comments among the hockey community.
He moved to Kärpp at the end of November, but the beginning of his Kärpät career has been difficult. Ritchie has played 10 matches in the Oulu team with 1+4 power points and twice took a shower in the middle of the match.
Nick Ritchie’s trick has shocked the puck crowd. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP