SDHL's table runner-up Brynäs has to do without its 20-year-old national team star Hanna Thuvik after a match penalty against AIK last Saturday.
Thuvik went out for a head tackle and is now suspended for three games.
The television images from the match do not show the situation because the camera was obscured during the tackle, but the ice hockey association's disciplinary committee has followed referee Fredrik Engert's line.
- The exposed head in an already established forward-leaning position means that I judge that the head should have been completely avoided as a point of contact, says Engert in a statement to the disciplinary committee.
Disagree with the judge
Hanna Thuvik does not agree with her own statement to the committee.
- The AIK player has her right shoulder towards me and I feel that she sees me.
The player is in low position, so I parry to get down.
My experience is that I hit shoulder to shoulder, I have no upward movement and come at low speed, says Thuvik.
One of the three games in Hanna Thuvik's suspension was canceled on Sunday when Brynäs lost against SDE.
She now also misses Brynä's doubles matches against HV71.
"I think it's boring, you want to be there and help the team," writes the Brynäs forward in a text message to SVT Sport.