Fleet’s MacKinnon suspended one game for hit on Charge’s Hughes
A player is suffering more repercussions for her actions in the opening game of the playoffs.
On Friday, the PWHL Player Safety Committee announced that Boston Fleet defender Rylind MacKinnon has been suspended one game for an illegal check to the head on Ottawa Charge forward Gabbie Hughes.
The incident happened in the waning minutes of the first period of Game 1 of the Walter Cup Semifinals on Thursday night. Hughes was rushing the puck into the Fleet zone. She tried to cut inside MacKinnon, who stepped up and delivered a high hit on Hughes, sending the 26-year-old spiraling to the ice.
Hughes was down on the ice for a few moments, but eventually trudged to the Ottawa bench. After a brief discussion with the team’s training staff, she went down the tunnel and into the locker room. However, she was well enough to return to action for the second period.
A video review from the Central Situation Room confirmed MacKinnon was to be handed a five-minute major penalty for an illegal check to the head and a game misconduct. That led to the Charge’s lone goal in the game, as Jocelyne Larocque tipped in a Rory Guilday point shot on the ensuing power play. However, Boston came back to win the game 2-1.
With that, MacKinnon will be ineligible to play in Game 2 against the Charge on Saturday night. She can return to the lineup for Game 3 next Friday.
This isn’t the first time MacKinnon has faced supplemental discipline in her young pro career. Last season, while with the Toronto Sceptres, she was suspended one game for a headshot on Montreal Victoire defender Amanda Boulier. Last month, she was fined $500 when retaliating against Sceptres forward Clara Van Wieren, after she hit Fleet forward Sophie Shirley from behind.
Game 2 between the Fleet and Charge is set for Saturday night at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, with puck drop scheduled for a little after 7 p.m. ET.