Attack on goalie leads to ban for Sheffield Steeler

Sheffield Steelers enforcer Zack Fitzgerald has been banned for two matches for 'recklessly' injuring a goaltender.
Zack Fitzgerald - in hot waterZack Fitzgerald - in hot water
Zack Fitzgerald - in hot water

The defenceman made contact with Coventry Blaze’s Brian Stewart in the first period of the Sheffield Arena game on Saturday.

An Elite League Department of Player Safety spokesman said: “The initial point of contact is to the head or neck area. Fitzgerald makes no attempt to avoid the contact with the Blaze player. It was a dangerous and reckless play, which resulted in an injury.”

On the night, Fitzgerald was given a two minute minor penalty for goalie interference.

Coventry requested that this was reviewed by DOPS which resulted in an upgrade in the initial call to a match penalty for checking to the head or neck.

This penalty carries an automatic one match ban.

Having considered the referee’s report and the video footage of the incident, Fitzgerald was banned for a second game.

So he misses the entire Scottish weekend, games in Edinburgh on Saturday and Dundee on Sunday.

There was also an automatic review on the Fife Flyers David Turon following his 2+10 penalty for checking to the head over the weekend.

After reviewing the evidence the Department of Player Safety has decided to take no further action and he is free to play this weekend.