A prominent defenseman will be absent from an upcoming game due to his actions. The International Ice Hockey Federation declared that Bowen Byram, a defenseman for Team Canada, has been suspended for one game following an incident where he slashed Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi.
The altercation occurred during the second period of Saturday’s Group A match, as Byram and Puljujarvi were engaged near the Canadian goal. Byram swung his stick at Puljujarvi, prompting a brief altercation. Byram received a major penalty and a game misconduct for slashing, while Puljujarvi was penalized for roughing in response.
The IIHF cited Byram’s violation of Rule 61 regarding slashing, noting the recklessness of his actions, especially considering he wasn’t looking in the direction of his swing. Consequently, Byram will sit out Canada’s upcoming game against Switzerland.
Despite this setback, Byram has performed well in the tournament, tallying a goal and four points with a +5 plus/minus rating in five games. This incident isn’t Byram’s first encounter with disciplinary action, as he was previously fined for interference during an NHL game in March.
Byram, aged 22, arrived at the world championship following a solid NHL season where he achieved a career-high 29 points in 73 games with the Buffalo Sabres, his new team after a trade from the Colorado Avalanche.
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