Justin Abdelkader’s punishment for plowing over former Boston Bruins forward Vladimir Sobotka in this May’s IIHF World Hockey Championship will extend into 2015.
The IIHF announced Tuesday that Abdelkader, the Detroit Red Wings forward who served as Team USA’s captain in Belarus, has been suspended for the first three games of next year’s tournament, should he again be selected for the team.
The suspension applies only for the 2015 World Championship and will not carry over into 2016 or affect his NHL eligibility.
Abdelkader’s high, late hit on Sobotka, who plays for the St. Louis Blues, came during Team USA’s quarterfinal matchup with the Czech Republic.
Abdelkader was given a five-minute major and ejected from the game. The Czechs scored twice on the ensuing power play en route to a 4-3 victory, eliminating the U.S. from the tournament.
The 27-year-old Michigan native played in 70 games for the Red Wings last season, setting career highs in points (28) and assists (18).
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@bssmith7
