His Last Game Ever?

Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno may have skated in his last international game for a long time earlier today. It seems the Canadian forward has a history of doing stupid things while wearing Hockey Canada's logo, but today's incident might be the most inexcusable of all the stupid acts he could have chosen to do. We'll get to the incident in a second, but there needs to be a serious discussion held by Team Canada officials moving forward if Joe Veleno will play again in the 2023 IIHF Men's World Hockey Championship and, more suitably, if he should ever be eligible to wear the Hockey Canada logo again. I have no doubt that the IIHF will come down harshly on him for his deliberate and idiotic act, but this should also factor in on all decisions concering Veleno suiting up for Canada in the future.

Without further adieu, here's Veleno's dangerous play, seen better at the 55-second mark with the cameras zoomed in on the scrum.
Mike Johnson is entirely right: that is beyond dirty. Veleno stomping the leg of Nino Niederreiter is a deliberate act that could have seriously injured the Swiss forward thanks to the razor-sharp blade in conjunction with the forceful nature of the stomp, and I, as a Canadian hockey fan, want Joe Veleno suspended for the remainder of this tournament and banned from wearing the maple leaf in the future. There is no place in hockey for that kind of stupidity. Thankfully, Niederreiter wasn't hurt and can continue helping the Swiss team put together a possible medal run in this tournament.

Let me be clear: if any player from any other team did the same thing, I'd want that player tossed and banned too. International hockey is supposed to be a competitive game among nations who gather to celebrate the game, not try to amputate body parts with a skate blade. I don't care if Niederreiter had been hounding Veleno all game, all tournament, or all his life, hockey players CANNOT use their skates to try to injure an opponent in any way, shape, or form.

I'm not here to debate whether Joe Veleno should even be skating for Canada at this tournament. He made the team (somehow), and has a two goals and five points to this moment. I say that because if I were the IIHF, Joe Veleno's tournament and any future IIHF games would be in serious jeopardy right now. Having him sit for the remainder of the tournament would be a light suspension if you're asking me.

If I were Hockey Canada, I'd let Veleno know that he has little to worry about when it comes to the IIHF suspension because his days in the red-and-white of Team Canada are over. Players who wear the Hockey Canada jersey need to be better representatives after everything the organization has done to sully its reputation, and having Veleno try to sever Niederreiter's leg or try to break his ankle is every reason why he should never be contacted about playing international hockey ever again.

Before you jump all over me, let me tell you to save your keyboard mashing where you tell me that penalty is too harsh for what Veleno did. New York Islanders forward Chris Simon got 30 games for stomping Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu as well-known repeat offender in 2007. Anaheim Ducks defenceman Chris Pronger was suspended eight games for stomping on the leg of Vancouver Canucks forward in 2008. Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan sat for two playoff games after stomping on Nashville Predators defenceman Jonathan Blum's foot in 2011.

As we know, consistency and punishment are two words that the NHL fails to understand regularly, but the IIHF generally comes down hard on players who do stupid things. As Hockey Canada, I'd go one step further and make sure that no one will need to try to explain Joe Veleno's actions ever again. You do the crime? You'll be punished.

Veleno will likely be punished by the IIHF tomorrow despite not being penalized for the stomp during the game. Personally, he wouldn't get a shot at a third strike while wearing Team Canada colours. The headbutt was questionable, but cost him a game. The stomp was deliberate and intentional, and it should cost him his tournament. The only thing left are international appearances, and do you really want to risk Veleno doing something stupid again?

Let this be a lesson for all players: using your skates for anything other than skating should get you a harsh penalty from the IIHF. If I were running Hockey Canada, though, any stomp would stamp out future opportunities to play internationally.

Until next time, keep your skates on the ice!

UPDATE: The IIHF ruled that Joe Veleno would be suspended for five games which would extend past the number of possible games Canada could play in the World Championship. He effectively has been suspended for the remainder of this tournament, and will have to sit out all five games of the suspension in any future IIHF tournament in which he's playing if those five games aren't met in this tournament. Excuse my sarcasm, but great work, Joe.