Should Team Canada progress through the IIHF World Championships bracket, they are going to need to do without their second leading scorer.
Red Wings center Joe Veleno was suspended five matches for an incident in the second half of Canada’s loss to Switzerland on Saturday when he stepped on Nino Niederreiter’s leg – or the area around his foot – together with his skate as the pair battled for possession along the backboards.
Veleno missed a penalty but Niederreiter was penalized as he continued to push Veleno throughout the game, eventually knocking the 23-year-old to the ice.
“I actually have been notified of a five-game suspension imposed by the IIHF for my conduct against Switzerland,” said Veleno. he said in an announcement. “I accept the IIHF sanctions and apologize for my behavior.”
![Joe Veleno defeated Nino Niederreiter in the second period of Saturday's game.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/joe-veleno-main.jpg?w=1024)
Resulting from the suspension, Veleno will miss Canada’s matches against Norway on Monday and the Czech Republic on Tuesday, in addition to potential quarter-final, semi-final and championship matches if Canada advances.
The IIHF said in its communiqué that Veleno had violated “Official Rule of the Game 49 (kicking)” which, in keeping with The Athleticstates that “the motion of a player intentionally using the skate(s) for a kicking motion to propel the puck or to make contact with an opponent.
“We have now been informed that the IIHF Disciplinary Committee has imposed a five-game suspension on Joe Veleno for the on-ice incident that occurred during the Canada-Switzerland game on May 20,” Canada men’s general manager Doug Anderson said in an announcement. . “The Canada men’s national team recognizes the committee’s role and appreciates the care taken in the decision-making process, and we accept and support the IIHF’s decision.”
![Joe Veleno was a first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2018.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/joe-veleno-getty.jpg?w=1024)
In his first five games in Group B, Veleno recorded two goals and three assists, taking only Flames defender MacKenzie Weegar and his eight points.
“It’s greater than dirty,” one in every of the broadcasters of the game he said during the replay. “It’s terrible when exactly what you are doing.”
This is not the first time Veleno has been suspended by the IIHF.
![Nino Niederreiter was the opponent Joe Veleno stepped on with his skate.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/nino-niederreiter-getty.jpg?w=1024)
In December 2019, Canada he lost Veleno for one game as a result of a headbutt suspension when he made contact with a Team Russia defender’s helmet twice after the whistle – the second contact causing the defender’s helmet to “lift up”, in keeping with the release.
Veleno was drafted by the Red Wings in the first round in 2018, ending thirtieth overall and scoring a career-high 20 points in 81 games that season.