Dominic Toninato Suspended by NCHC

The NCHC has suspended UMD sophomore forward Dominic Toninato for Saturday's series finale against Western Michigan as a result of his knee-on-knee hit to Nolan LaPorte of Western Michigan Friday night.

Here is the relevant portion of the league's statement from earlier Saturday (UNO's Brian O'Rourke got a two-game ban for a hit to head against Colorado College, but I'm not including that in this copy/paste).

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has issued suspensions to both Omaha senior defenseman Brian O’Rourke and Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward Dominic Toninato, in accordance with the conference’s supplemental discipline policy, the NCHC announced Saturday, Jan. 17. The suspensions stem from illegal hits during their respective games on Friday, Jan. 16.

Toninato was suspended one game following a review of the play in which knee-on-knee contact was made with a Western Michigan player at 13:31 of the first period of Friday’s game with the Broncos. Toninato was issued a five-minute major for kneeing on the play. He will be required to serve the suspension during Saturday’s series finale with WMU and is eligible to return next weekend, Jan. 23 against Bemidji State in the North Star College Cup.