Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin delivers devastating hit in women's gold-medal game
Canadian captain's hit caught USA's Brianna Decker in the head
By Nick Murray, CBC Sports
Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin was lucky not to get kicked out of the gold-medal game.
The hero from the 2014 and 2010 Olympics delivered a hard hit early in the third period on U.S. forward Brianna Decker — who was stickhandling in front of the Canadian net after receiving a saucer pass — catching Decker in the head.
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Under the International Ice Hockey Federation rules, not only is there no hitting in women's hockey, but any hit to an opponent's head — even in men's play — should be a two-minute minor and a misconduct penalty, at minimum.
Decker was injured on the play, though she returned to the game. Body checking is not allowed in women's hockey and there's grounds for a game-misconduct penalty if a player is injured from a hit.
That’s a suspension for Poulin if this was NHL rulebook. Pure head shot. Yikes
—@THNMattLarkin"And that's not a penalty? Marie-Philip Poulin just planted her. In international hockey that's usually five minutes. And here it will be nothing." - Pierre McGuire on hit to the head of Brianna Decker, Team USA trails Canada 2-1 early third period on <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCSN</a>
—@NBCSportsPRThat was a terrible non-call. Embarrassing actually. Body contact? Elbowing? Blow to the head? Take your pick.
—@THNKenCampbellMarie-Philip Poulin is like Sid crossed with Brad Marchand
—@bruce_arthur