Team Canada and Red Wings forward Joe Veleno suspended for leg stomp

Joe Veleno of Team Canada and the Detroit Red Wings has been suspended for the dangerous decision he made Saturday.

In a recent game at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Joe Veleno, the forward for Team Canada and the Detroit Red Wings, found himself at the center of controversy. Veleno has been suspended for five games for violating IIHF rules on kicking, specifically for his action of stomping on the leg of Swiss captain Nino Niederreiter with his skate during the second period of Saturday’s round-robin loss against Switzerland.

Detroit Red Wings Filip Hronek Marco Kasper David Perron Joe Veleno Team Canada

Key Points

  • Veleno’s leg stomp on Niederreiter’s leg was not initially penalized by the officials but resulted in a two-minute minor penalty for Niederreiter, who retaliated against Veleno.
  • The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Disciplinary Panel subsequently announced a five-game suspension for Veleno, which will begin with the game against Norway on Monday.
  • This is not the first time Veleno has faced suspension; he was previously suspended for one game during the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for head-butting.

Veleno with the Red Wings

Veleno was selected as the 30th overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft. He made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season but only had the opportunity to play in five games. However, in the most recent season, Veleno showcased his skills by participating in 81 out of the Red Wings 82 games. Throughout the season, he accumulated 20 points, which included nine goals and 11 assists.

In his overall career, Veleno has participated in 152 games, amassing a total of 36 points from 18 goals and 18 assists. Notably, at the World Championship, Veleno represented his country and competed in five games, during which he demonstrated his scoring abilities by netting two goals and contributing three assists. These performances indicate his continuous development as a skilled player, and he remains a promising asset.

W.G. Brady
W.G. Brady

W.G. Brady is a Detroit-based journalist who has been covering the Detroit sports scene for Detroit Sports Nation for several years. He is in his early 30s and has a wealth of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, W.G. has established himself as a respected and knowledgeable journalist known for his in-depth coverage of the teams and athletes in Detroit. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for sports, W.G. has become a go-to source for fans and readers looking for the latest news and analysis on the Detroit sports scene. He has a good reputation in the sports community and is respected for his unbiased coverage of sports events. W.G. is known for his ability to uncover hidden stories and provide unique perspectives on the teams and athletes he covers. He has a good understanding of the city of Detroit and its sports culture, which he uses to inform his reporting and analysis. He continues to be a respected journalist in the Detroit sports industry.