Johnson’s Cheap Shot Doesn’t Result in a Suspension

If you’ve watched a sports news program in the last 48 hours, you probably saw footage of Eric Johnson’s cheap shot on Stephen Downie. It’s near the end of the game between Canada and the USA at the World Juniors, and Canada has just scored an empty net goal. The play is over, and Johnson skates past Downie and clocks him on the jaw with his elbow. If you haven’t seen it, here’s the video:

• Eric Johnson elbow on Stephen Downie

Downie went down in a heap and didn’t get up for a couple of minutes. Johnson was dismissed from the game with a match misconduct.

Astonishingly, the International Ice Hockey Federation has decreed that Johnson isn’t deserving of any further penalty. This for an act that would merit suspension in the much more lenient NHL. Given the ridiculously conservative officiating through earlier games, this is shocking. The IIHF is sending some pretty mixed messages to its players and coaches.

Regardless, it was one of the best hockey games I’ve ever attended. The Canadian victory means they’ve got a much easier path to the gold medal game–a buy bye for the quarter finals, then Sweden or Finland in the semi-finals.