Phoenix Coyotes winger Raffi Torres has been suspended for 25 games for a devastating hit on Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa, the National Hockey League (NHL) said on Saturday.
If the 25-game ban is not served by the conclusion of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Torres' suspension will carry over into the 2012-13 NHL season, league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said in a video posted on the NHL's website (www.nhl.com).
Hossa lay on the ice of Chicago's United Center for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher. He was released from hospital a few hours later.
There is no timetable for Hossa's return, which is a severe blow to the Blackhawks as the 33-year-old Slovak was their regular-season points leader.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by John Mehaffey)
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