That decision came down a day after Canadian captain Barrett Hayton issued an apology for wearing his helmet during the Russian national anthem following the game. Veleno, who is Canada’s ice time leader so far and one of five returning skaters on the team, was not penalized on the play. When Veleno got up and confronted Misyul, he initiated contact with his helmet by bumping into the visor of his opponent. The IIHF’s decision also cost Veleno the chance to play against his American league teammate Moritz Seider, the German captain and fellow Detroit first-rounder. Veleno and Seider share an apartment together in Grand Rapids, Mich., in their first year of pro and were looking forward to playing against each other in Ostrava.

Source: National Post December 29, 2019 23:48 UTC