The sixth suspension of the regular season has been handed down.

On Thursday, Nashville Predators’ forward <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/predators-zachary-lheureux-suspended-three-games-for-slew-footing-wilds-jared-spurgeon">Zachary L’Heureux slew-footed Minnesota Wild captain</a> Jared Spurgeon, and a day later, the league handed down his punishment: a three-game suspension.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Nashville forward Zachary L&#39;Heureux has been suspended three games for slew-footing Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon <a href="https://t.co/0Yy5qu7WOd">pic.twitter.com/0Yy5qu7WOd</a>
&mdash; B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1874941703658094903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Spurgeon missed the rest of the game and it was reported after the game by The Athletic&#8217;s Joe Smith that Spurgeon was seen leaving the game on crutches and a leg brace. The Wild defenceman has already missed seven games this season as playing in just 16 games in 2023-24. 
This is L&#8217;Heureux&#8217;s first suspension in his 33-game career. However, he&#8217;s had a litany of suspensions in the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and American Hockey League, getting suspended 11 separate times. His last suspension in the QMJHL saw him jam his stick through the glass to hit a fan.
The two teams will meet again on Jan. 18.
<h2>Germany remains in the World Junior Championship</h2>
There’s an argument that the 2025 World Junior Championship is one of the best in history, and the 2026 tournament <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-world-juniors-top-standouts-as-germany-beats-kazakhstan-in-relegation-game">is set after Germany’s victory over Kazakhstan</a> on the most Mondayest feeling Thursday of all time.
Germany finished last in Group A action, falling to the United States, Canada, Finland, and Latvia. With the overtime loss to Latvia, the Germans picked up a point, despite falling to the relegation game.
On the other side of things, Team Kazakhstan lost in blowout fashion to Team Sweden and Team Czechia but scored two late goals against Team Slovakia on the penalty kill to pick up their first tournament points in years. It came down to the final day, and a close game against Switzerland saw the forever neutral team pick up a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan, sending them to the relegation game.
At one point, Kazakhstan led 3-1 early in the second period, but two goals shortly after by Germany tied the game up at three. Early in the third period, Julius Sumpf scored to put Germany up 4-3, the final score of the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
GERMANY TAKES THE LEAD! 
Julius Sumpf scores on the powerplay to make it 4-3 over Kazakhstan. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldJuniors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldJuniors</a> <a href="https://t.co/M2eEXeCZuy">pic.twitter.com/M2eEXeCZuy</a>
&mdash; TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1874882562968911956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The 2026 tournament, set to be held in Minneapolis and Saint Paul Minnesota, will be without Kazakhstan, while Denmark earned a promotion to the tournament after winning Division I Group A. In that group, Hungary was relegated to Division I, Group B.
For only the second time in its history, the tournament is being held in Ottawa &#8211; the first time since 2009. So far, we’ve seen massive upsets, clutch comebacks, and exhilarating games, two of which I’ve personally been to. It’s safe to say that it’s been one of the most competitive tournaments, as each team picked up at least a point for the first time since the 1999 tournament.
Personally, it’s one of my favourite tournaments I’ve ever watched and has the makings of a classic.
<h2>Dallas fined for holding a practice on Dec. 26</h2>
It was reported that the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-york-sirens-activate-jill-saulnier-off-ltir">Dallas Stars have been fined $100,000</a> for holding a practice on Dec. 26, otherwise known as Boxing Day in Canada.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The Dallas Stars have been fined $100,000 for violating the NHL&#39;s CBA with a practice on Dec. 26. 
That violated Article 16.5(b), which calls for Dec. 24, 25 and 26 to be off and says &quot;no club may request a player&#39;s consent to practice on such days for any reason.&quot;
&mdash; Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1873854299719295444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
The CBA prohibits teams from holding practices, even if option, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Dec. 26. The money is given to the NHL Foundation, a charity cause that seeks to build the sport and make it welcoming to all.
As for the Stars, they’re off to an okay start, as they have a 22-13-1 record, fourth in the Central Division, behind the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and Colorado Avalanche. They hold onto the first Wild Card spot, three points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.
Last season, the Stars finished with a 52-21-9 record with 113 points, one point behind the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers. They had hard-fought battles against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.
If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

The sixth suspension of the regular season has been handed down.



On Thursday, Nashville Predators’ forward <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/predators-zachary-lheureux-suspended-three-games-for-slew-footing-wilds-jared-spurgeon">Zachary L’Heureux slew-footed Minnesota Wild captain</a> Jared Spurgeon, and a day later, the league handed down his punishment: a three-game suspension.

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1874941703658094903

Spurgeon missed the rest of the game and it was reported after the game by The Athletic's Joe Smith that Spurgeon was seen leaving the game on crutches and a leg brace. The Wild defenceman has already missed seven games this season as playing in just 16 games in 2023-24. 

This is L'Heureux's first suspension in his 33-game career. However, he's had a litany of suspensions in the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and American Hockey League, getting suspended 11 separate times. His last suspension in the QMJHL saw him jam his stick through the glass to hit a fan.

The two teams will meet again on Jan. 18.
<h2>Germany remains in the World Junior Championship</h2>
There’s an argument that the 2025 World Junior Championship is one of the best in history, and the 2026 tournament <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-world-juniors-top-standouts-as-germany-beats-kazakhstan-in-relegation-game">is set after Germany’s victory over Kazakhstan</a> on the most Mondayest feeling Thursday of all time.

Germany finished last in Group A action, falling to the United States, Canada, Finland, and Latvia. With the overtime loss to Latvia, the Germans picked up a point, despite falling to the relegation game.

On the other side of things, Team Kazakhstan lost in blowout fashion to Team Sweden and Team Czechia but scored two late goals against Team Slovakia on the penalty kill to pick up their first tournament points in years. It came down to the final day, and a close game against Switzerland saw the forever neutral team pick up a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan, sending them to the relegation game.

At one point, Kazakhstan led 3-1 early in the second period, but two goals shortly after by Germany tied the game up at three. Early in the third period, Julius Sumpf scored to put Germany up 4-3, the final score of the game.

https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1874882562968911956

The 2026 tournament, set to be held in Minneapolis and Saint Paul Minnesota, will be without Kazakhstan, while Denmark earned a promotion to the tournament after winning Division I Group A. In that group, Hungary was relegated to Division I, Group B.

For only the second time in its history, the tournament is being held in Ottawa - the first time since 2009. So far, we’ve seen massive upsets, clutch comebacks, and exhilarating games, two of which I’ve personally been to. It’s safe to say that it’s been one of the most competitive tournaments, as each team picked up at least a point for the first time since the 1999 tournament.

Personally, it’s one of my favourite tournaments I’ve ever watched and has the makings of a classic.
<h2>Dallas fined for holding a practice on Dec. 26</h2>
It was reported that the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-york-sirens-activate-jill-saulnier-off-ltir">Dallas Stars have been fined $100,000</a> for holding a practice on Dec. 26, otherwise known as Boxing Day in Canada.

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1873854299719295444

&nbsp;

The CBA prohibits teams from holding practices, even if option, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Dec. 26. The money is given to the NHL Foundation, a charity cause that seeks to build the sport and make it welcoming to all.

As for the Stars, they’re off to an okay start, as they have a 22-13-1 record, fourth in the Central Division, behind the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and Colorado Avalanche. They hold onto the first Wild Card spot, three points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.

Last season, the Stars finished with a 52-21-9 record with 113 points, one point behind the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers. They had hard-fought battles against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.

If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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