The ECHL has announced fines and suspensions from this weekend’s slate as the league announced that three players were suspended
During Iowa’s 9-4 loss to Cincinnati on November 4, Iowa Heartlanders Forward Michael Knaub jumped the barrier between the ice and bench to instigate a fight with the Cyclones’ Cristiano DiGiactino for a high hit on Iowa’s Liam Coughlin halfway through the first period. Coughlin was all right following the hit, and DiGiactino received a five-minute major penalty for fighting. Knaub got a two-minute minor penalty for instigation, a five-minute major for fighting, and an instant ejection for game misconduct.
Knaub, born and raised in the German city of Dortmund, was labeled a “bad boy” during his time with four different teams across the German second and third tiers of hockey; clearly showed it in this fight, rolling with every punch and putting two on DiGiactino for each one he received.
The protocol for jumping the bench during a fight is a five-game suspension, which Iowa fans may remember was not enforced on two players of the Wichita Thunder earlier this season, allowing them to shine in two Thunder wins over the Heartlanders.
Knaub will be eligible to return for the final game of Iowa’s six-game homestand, meaning he will be available for the concluding game of the three-game set with the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday, November 18.
Iowa Head Coach Derek Damon has not yet commented on the incident or the suspension. The Heartlanders will play their next game on Wednesday, November 8, against the Kalamazoo Wings, with the puck dropping at 6:35 p.m.
The league also announced that Newfoundland’s Nathan Noel has been suspended two games for boarding, he was assessed a major and a game misconduct during Saturday’s game and Fort Wayne’s Jack Dugan was suspended a game for an unpenalized slew foot during Saturday’s game
