Team Italy forward Cristiano DiGiacinto suspended for one game for a blindside hit on Martin Fehervary

Team Italy had to face a setback as one promising forwards, Cristiano DiGiacinto, received a one-game suspension for the upcoming match against Finland at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, following a dangerous hit on Slovakia defenseman Martin Fehervary.

Cristiano has been one of Italy’s better energetic forwards at the Olympics, but they’ll be without him in the team’s final round-robin game, as reported by Daily Faceoff. As per reports, the IIHF's Olympic Winter Games Disciplinary Panel ruled that DiGiacinto delivered a check to the head of Fehervary during Italy's group-stage match against Team Slovakia. The hit was described as a blindside contact in which the Italian forward appeared to elevate into the collision, making primary contact with the Slovak defender's head.

However, Fehervary stayed in the game and did not miss a shift after taking the head contact.

Italy’s Cristiano DiGiacinto suspended for hit to head of Slovakia's Fehervary

Italian forward Cristiano DiGiacinto has been suspended for one game in the 2026 Winter Olympics men's ice hockey tournament following a review of a head contact incident in Italy's second preliminary match. After the incident occurred, the play was reviewed, and Digiacinto was only given two minutes for the play.As per rule, the IIHF reserves the right to review penalties, especially those involving head contact.

And that’s why DiGiacinto will be unavailable when host nation Italy faces defending Olympic champion Finland in its next Group B game in Milan.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Disciplinary Panel ruled that DiGiacinto committed an illegal check to the head or neck on Slovakian defenseman Martin Fehervary during Italy's 3-2 loss to Slovakia on February 13, 2026.“While the Panel acknowledges that Digiacinto did not intentionally target the head of his opponent, he nonetheless took a poor angle of approach to deliver a hit which resulted in direct contact to the head of Fehervary.

Thus, Digiacinto endangered his opponent and, as such, violated Official Playing Rule 48 (Illegal Check to the Head and Neck)," a tournament report stated. DiGiacinto is yet to register a point through two games in the tournament. However, he still managed to see 20:14 in ice time against the Slovaks. It is to be noted that Italy entered the tournament with a 0-2 record and will await its qualification round opponent on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Italy will lock horns with on Finland at 10:40 AM ET, with the team running 12 forwards and eight defensemen in DiGiacinto’s absence