Slewfoot pॠRasmus Dahlin i JVM.#twttpuck #rlgifs pic.twitter.com/82puJ3ZzXm
— RoadLaker (@RoadLaker) December 28, 2016
The 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship Disciplinary Panel has issued a one-game suspension to Thurkauf for slew-footing Swedish player Rasmus Dahlin in the teams’ game on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at the end of the first period when both players were along the boards and had light shoulder-to-shoulder contact. Thurkauf buried Dahlin with a scuzzy slewfoot.
Thurkauf said in the hearing today that he"lost his emotional control" for that short moment due to previous incidents, that he did not want to injure the opponent and that he acknowledges the misconduct.
The Disciplinary Panel determined that the player’s action constituted a slew-foot (IIHF Rule 160) and that it was a dangerous and unsportsmanlike behavior, which according to the Rule Book should have resulted in a match penalty. Fortunately, Dahlin was not seriously injured and was able to continue playing.
Thurkauf was therefore sanctioned with a suspension of one game, being the team’s next game tomorrow against Denmark.
Why is this such a big deal?
Dahlin is only 16 years old. 16. He was born in 2000.
Dahlin will be the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
The kid is a rock star and is making huge contributions to Team Sweden's success in their two preliminary round games, both wins, in Montreal.
Dahlin has a goal and an assist, is +3 and has 5 SOG in two games played. He is averaging 9 minutes TOI per game at the WJC tourney.
Dahlin is 6'1" and 175. He has an NHL shot, high end speed/skill, and is very smart in all three zones on the ice. He loves to drop the hammer and finish checks on opponents.
When Sweden and Switzerland were knotted at 2-2 after 40 minutes on Wednesday night, it was Dahlin, and not a forward, who the coaching staff double shifted to create mismatches and to kick start the offense.
It happened as it was drawn up and the Swedes went on to win 4-2, courtesy two goals from captain Joel Eriksson Ek and two assists from Alex Nylander.
Sweden is 2-0 and is leading Group A.
Dahlin is already being compared by many observers to Swedish D stars like Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Arizona Coyotes? There have even been reporters who compare Dahlin to Swedish legends Nik Lidstrom and Borje Salming.
“It’s very fun to hear, but I don’t listen so much to that,… Dahlin told IIHF.com. “I focus on my own game from day to day and train hard.…
Dahlin plays for Frolunda Gothenburg in the SEL.
“You can see that he’s a great player,… said forward Alexander Nylander, who led Sweden with nine points en route to fourth place last year. “He’s got great moves and plays really well on the blue line. So it’s a good help for our team. He’s very talented.…
Only one other player born in 2000 is taking part at this tournament: Switzerland's Nico Gross