SOCHI, Russia (AP) - Forward Sabahudin Kovacevic has been suspended for Slovenia’s next Olympic hockey game for his hit on Slovakia’s Tomas Kopecky.
The Olympic men’s tournament disciplinary panel suspended Kovacevic on Sunday, a few hours before Slovenia’s game with the United States.
Kovacevic hit Kopecky in the head and neck with his left elbow when the players collided near the Slovak goal during a preliminary-round game Saturday. The disciplinary committee determined Kovacevic extended and directed his elbow into the head of Kopecky, who didn’t return to the game.
Slovenia beat Slovakia 3-1 for its first Olympic hockey victory.
Both of the Florida Panthers’ representatives in Sochi have been injured. Finland’s Aleksander Barkov is out for the rest of the Olympics after getting hurt in Friday’s win over Norway.
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