Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella was informed by the National Hockey League’s disciplinary office that he’s been suspended two games without pay for an illegal check in Tuesday’s game against the New York Islanders.
Scandella will forfeit $11,021.50 for his illegal check to Brock Nelson’s head. The money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Nelson played his high school hockey in Warroad and he was a star player at the University of North Dakota. The league’s Department of Player Safety notes that because Scandella used his shoulder to hit Nelson’s head as the main point of contact, the check is illegal.
According to the Star Tribune, Scandella was fined 10 days ago for a similar hit on St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie, who also just so happens to have played his high school hockey in Warroad and his college hockey at North Dakota.
With Keith Ballard out following a nasty hit in the Islanders game in which he suffered a concussion and multiple facial fractures, the Wild’s blue line will feature appearances from Christian Folin and Justin Falk when the Wild plays San Jose on Thursday.
