The NCHC has announced a two-game suspension of UMD freshman forward Isaac Howard, a result of his actions during Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Wisconsin at Amsoil Arena.
Howard was assessed a major penalty for cross checking and given a game misconduct penalty at 7:23 of the second period, following a video review. The video shows Howard cross-checking Wisconsin defenseman Corson Ceuelemans in the head, well behind the play. Ceuelemans was down briefly but stayed in the game.
Howard, a first round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 NHL Draft, will be required to serve his two-game suspension this weekend, when UMD plays a non-conference home series with Cornell. He can return to the lineup Nov. 4, when the Bulldogs open NCHC play at Colorado College.
It will mark the second and third straight games UMD has played with a key part of the roster suspended. The Bulldogs were without junior defenseman Wyatt Kaiser on Saturday after he was issued a one-game suspension for a high-sticking incident Friday.
UMD coach Scott Sandelin talked about an undisciplined weekend for his team after Saturday’s loss.
“One of the main focuses going into the game was controlling emotions, managing the game,” he said. “And I didn’t like at all what I saw in the second period, aside from Isaac’s penalty. There was a lot of stuff on the bench that I addressed after the game, that we will never see again. Because it will not creep into this.
“There’s always going to be adversity, there’s always going to be frustrating moments. But the best way to do that is put your head down, go to work, and play. What I saw tonight was addressed and hopefully we won’t see that again. Because it won’t bode well if I do.”
Sandelin said frustration and emotion are going to happen, but “you can’t put your team in a tough spot.
“(Friday) was a one-goal hockey game. Regardless of how it happened, it happened. Plus we lose one of our best players for another game. (Saturday), we lose another good player for half a game when we’re down two goals.”
Howard has two points on one goal and one assist through six games.
Comments