Joe Veleno suspended for five games, fans demand lifetime ban instead - "Won't wear Canada jersey again"

In a recent international ice hockey tournament game between Switzerland and Canada, an incident between Joe Veleno of Team Canada and Nino Niederreiter of Team Switzerland sparked intense debate among fans.

Veleno's forceful hit to Niederreiter's leg with the blades of his skates has resulted in a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking).

That said, let's delve into the Reddit community's reactions to the suspension.

[IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). by u/Duffleman0609 in hockey

The Reddit community wasted no time in expressing their opinions on Joe Veleno's suspension. Various fans voiced their concerns, reflecting a wide range of reactions to the incident.

One fan commented,

"I would have been fine with like a lifetime ban from IIHF events. 5 games seems very light. Should have been at least a few years."

Comment by u/tm_leafer from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

This sentiment reflects strong dissatisfaction with the 5-game suspension and a belief that a lifetime ban would have been a more appropriate punishment. The fan emphasized the severity of Veleno's actions and suggested that a stricter penalty is necessary.

Another fan expressed similar concerns, stating,

"Yeah, I'm shocked it's not more. I haven't seen a more obvious non-hockey play intent to injure than that in a while with some pretty crazy potential outcomes, got lucky it wasn't worse. Zero place in the game for that and we should have zero tolerance for anything like a stomp such as this."

Comment by u/malabericus from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

This comment reflects the fan's shock at the relatively lenient punishment given the dangerous nature of the incident. The fan believes that Veleno's actions constituted a clear intent to injure and highlights the potential for severe consequences. They argue for zero tolerance towards such non-hockey plays that risk the safety of players.

In addition to the call for stricter punishment, another fan suggested that Veleno should be immediately removed from Team Canada and not be allowed to represent the team in the future. They stated,

"Just a blatantly dirty play, super dangerous. No excuse for that. Head on the plane and go home, and keep him away from Team Canada moving forward."

Comment by u/BramptonBatallion from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

This fan's comment reflects a desire for immediate consequences and a belief that Veleno's actions are incompatible with representing Team Canada. They advocate for removing Veleno from the team entirely to prevent any future incidents.

Warning: NSFW Language

Comment by u/NtBtFan from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/saucytopcheddar from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/Skadrys from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/ithinkitsnotworking from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/ultrafil from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/jim_hello from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/dudewithchronicpain from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

Comment by u/Kaptain202 from discussion [IIHF] Suspension Announcement: HockeyCanada's Joe Veleno has been issued a 5-game suspension for violating Official Playing Rule 49 (Kicking). in hockey

It is clear that Joe Veleno's incident has left a lasting impact on the hockey community.

---

A Look at Joe Veleno's NHL Career

On June 4, 2015, Joe Veleno made history by becoming the first player from Quebec to be granted "exceptional status" at the age of 15, allowing him to play in major junior hockey.

In December 2017, Veleno was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in exchange for multiple draft picks. Veleno's performance caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was chosen as the 30th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

During the 2018-19 QMJHL season, Joe Veleno continued to showcase his skills, recording 104 points in just 59 games with Drummondville. On May 1, 2019, Veleno signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings. However, he did not make the Red Wings roster out of training camp and began the 2019-20 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate.

Finally, on April 27, 2021, Veleno made his NHL debut for the Detroit Red Wings against the Columbus Blue Jackets, marking a milestone in his professional career.

However, his NHL journey has now seen a dark cloud during the 2023 IIHF World Championships due to his five-game suspension.