Minnesota Frost defender Maggie Flaherty has been suspended for two games by the PWHL for a “dangerous” hit to the head on Boston’s Alina Muller.
The PWHL Player Safety Committee announced that after further review Minnesota Frost’s Maggie Flaherty will be suspended two games for her hit on Alina Muller in Wednesday’s game.
The Boston Fleet faced the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday, when late in the second period a hit to Fleet forward Alina Muller’s head took her out of the game. The hit came from Flaherty, who was initially charged with a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
After an automatic review by the on-ice officials and PWHL Central Situation Room, the play was downgraded to a minor penalty.
The hit was ruled on ice as a Check to the Head (Accidental), which falls under PWHL Rule 48.3 Minor Penalty – Accidental Contact.
This call came as a shock to many who were both concerned about Muller and confused as to why the play was changed from a major to a minor.
“Hopefully it will be re-evaluated. We never want to see someone get hurt” said head coach Courtney Kessel after the game.
Kessel was correct in assuming there would be a re-evaluation. The Player Safety committee has now reversed the call again two days after the game, saying in a statement that they “deemed this action to be unsafe and dangerous. Flaherty applied opposite directional force, extended her elbow high with no intention to play the puck, and made contact with the head of an opponent where such contact was avoidable.”
Flaherty is suspended for the Frost’s next two games following the league initiated review. There are still no updates on Muller’s state at this time.
Boston Fleet Head Coach Courtney Kessel said they were still evaluating Muller following the game.
Kessel spoke for the league when she said, “You never want to see anyone get hit like that, and you don’t want to see anyone get hurt”.