Domi suspended for unprovoked attack

Ice hockey

The National Hockey League has suspended the Toronto Maple Leafs forward, Tie Domi, for eight games after he launched an unprovoked attack on the New York Rangers defenceman, Ulf Samuelsson, during a game on Saturday night. Domi also was fined the maximum $1,000 (pounds 650) allowable.

Domi, who said that he had been goaded by the player, knocked out Samuelsson with a left hook to the jaw in the closing minutes of Saturday's 2-0 win by the Rangers. Samuelsson lay unconscious for about five minutes and a stretcher was brought to the ice, although he managed to leave the rink unassisted before having stitches in the back of his head.

"Mr Domi's actions were deliberate, premeditated and clearly administered with the intent to injure his opponent," said Brian Burke, the NHL director of hockey operations.

"The fact that Mr Samuelsson was unable to defend himself as he was looking away from his opponent also was a factor in my decision. While Mr Samuelsson verbally challenged Mr Domi prior to the punch, verbal taunting by an opponent does not justify this type of conduct."

Domi is eligible to return on 3 November for the Leafs' game against Vancouver. Samuelsson, who was diagnosed as suffering from concussion, did not play in the Rangers' 7-5 defeat by Hartford on Monday night.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 31