It's Nickerson time - again

Kuva: Timo Jaakonaho

Matt Nickerson.

Despite of being suspended, Ässät defenseman Matt Nickerson remains in the headlines. While suffering a three match ban he received a week earlier, Nickerson attacked Ilves defenseman Kevin Kantee after Saturday night's game in Pori.

Nickerson and Kantee "bumped" into each other in the locker room corridor where the American wasn't even allowed to stay during his suspension. Nickerson, wearing a black suit, pushed Kantee towards a stick rack. Kantee suffered no injuries.

Kantee was reluctant to comment on the incident but Nickerson wasn't.

-Kantee raised his stick and smiled to me sarcasticly. That's why I pushed him, Nickerson said.

SM-liiga's chief of disciplinary matters Mr Jarmo Muukkonen announced a five match ban to Nickerson on Tuesday. In addition, Ässät was fined with 10 000 euros, because they failed to control a suspended player.

Höglund released

In Lappeenranta SaiPa released Swedish forward Henrik Höglund. Höglund had only seven points in 15 games with the "Sputniks". SaiPa is 11th in the standings and has been struggling lately. Over the last three games they have lost three times and scored only three goals.

Canadian forward Alex Nikiforuk has been solid. The 24-year old is playing his first season as a professional after four years of college hockey in Nebraska-Omaha. Nikiforuk has three goals and ten assists in 17 games.

Leading the foreign players scoring in SM-liiga is Tim Stapleton of Jokerit with 10 goals and 13 assists in 17 games. The American is followed by two Czechs, Michal Bros and Ondrej Kratena, both playing for Kärpät Oulu. Bros has 18 (9+9) and Kratena 14 (6+8) points.

Baxter still in charge

SM-liiga will take a eight day break after next weekend's round because of the EuroHockey Tour tournament in Helsinki. Jokerit head coach Doug Shedden will be leading the Finnish national team for the first time.

Shedden's Jokerit have won seven of their last eight games. "Shed's" fellow countryman Paul Baxter isn't doing as well with the HIFK. The other team from the Finnish capital played two 0-0 games in a row recently. They managed to win SaiPa on penalties, but lost to HPK. On Tuesday night Jokerit crushed HIFK 5 to 2. Center Tommi Santala, who played 63 games in the NHL for Atlanta and Vancouver in 2003-07, scored a hat trick.

The HIFK board had meeting before the match against Jokerit, but Baxter remains in his position for the moment.

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