LATEST | 2023 draft prospect ejected at World Championship following big hit

During the second period of Monday's Group B game at the World Championship between Canada and Norway, 2023 NHL Draft prospect Adam Fantilli was ejected for a questionable hit.

Norwegian derfenceman Christian Kaasastul had the puck in the corner in his own zone when Adam Fantilli glided into him and leveled him to the ice, catching him up high. Kaasastul was down on the ice for about a minute and bleeding, while Fantilli was ushered to the penalty box by the officials.

The officials reviewed the penalty and decided to stay with the call on the ice, giving Fantilli a five-minute major and a match penalty. While it's likely that Fantilli will hear from the IIHF's Disciplinary Panel because he was given a match penalty, there's a good chance he won't be suspended.

The International Ice Hockey Federation is very strict when it comes to head contact, even if it's very minimal, like Fantilli's hit on Kaasastul. If this hit happened in a National Hockey League game, Fantilli probably wouldn't have even been penalized, or if he was, it would have only been a two-minute minor.

Adam Fantilli with a big hit on Christian Kaasastul.

There was some head contact, which was reviewed.

Fantilli has been ejected. #IIHFworlds pic.twitter.com/ZoTfoTiTpe— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 22, 2023