Braden Schneider played just four shifts on Boxing Day before being ejected for a hit to the head on German forward Jan-Luca Schumacher. The Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman was suspended one game and missed Sunday's win over Slovakia.
"I wasn't, honestly, too surprised," he said. "I know with the IIHF they take head shots very seriously, as they should, and I was kind of expecting one and I think I got what I deserved."
Hitting is part of Schneider's DNA as a hockey player. He studied Scott Stevens bodychecks on YouTube as a kid and views Shea Weber as his National Hockey League role model. But the Rangers' first-rounder admits he needs to recalibrate his physical play to avoid further issues at the World Juniors.