Tag: Wernblom

Lukas Wernblom handed six-game ban for biting

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

TPS’s Swedish forward Lukas Wernblom has been suspended for six matches by Liiga after an incident involving Lukko defenceman Peetro Seppälä. The disciplinary decision found that Wernblom bit Seppälä through his playing glove during a battle in front of goal in Saturday’s Lukko game.

Seppälä suffered a bleeding wound to his finger. Liiga’s disciplinary delegation described biting as a rare act with no place in hockey and said it had not previously handled a comparable biting case in its disciplinary history.

Key Facts

  • TPS forward Lukas Wernblom has been given a six-game suspension by Liiga.
  • The punishment relates to an incident in Saturday’s game against Lukko.
  • Liiga found that Wernblom bit Lukko defenceman Peetro Seppälä through his playing glove during a goalmouth battle.
  • Seppälä sustained a bleeding wound to his finger.
  • The bite was not visible on video, but a linesman witnessed the incident and the disciplinary delegation also considered Seppälä’s reaction and injury reliable evidence.
  • The delegation took account of the seriousness of the act, that it occurred during a stoppage in play and the injury caused to Seppälä when setting the six-game ban.

IHM Discussion

The case was resolved on a combination of officiating evidence and the physical aftermath rather than video footage alone. Liiga’s disciplinary delegation said it was fully established that Wernblom had bitten Seppälä, citing the linesman’s observation alongside Seppälä’s reaction and the wound to his finger.

The circumstances began as Seppälä attempted to free himself from Wernblom’s hold by pushing Wernblom’s head with his glove. That did not alter the delegation’s view of the bite or its severity. Its decision emphasised both the nature of the action and the fact that it happened after play had stopped.

Why It Matters

A six-game absence is a substantial punishment for TPS, while the ruling also sets a clear marker for an unusual form of on-ice misconduct in Liiga. The league described biting as rare and incompatible with hockey, and its first disciplinary handling of such a case has produced a significant sanction.

For Wernblom, the decision is a formal finding that carries an immediate playing consequence. For Seppälä and Lukko, the ruling recognises the injury sustained in the incident.

Lukas Wernblom ejected after biting incident in Liiga

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

TPS star forward Lukas Wernblom was ejected from Saturday’s Liiga match against Lukko after officials determined that he had bitten Lukko defenceman Peetro Seppälä on the hand.

Seppälä was left holding his finger in pain after the confrontation. The officiating crew conducted a lengthy video review before issuing Wernblom a game ejection for biting. TPS then had to complete the match without one of the key forwards on its first line in front of a sold-out home crowd.

Key Facts

  • TPS forward Lukas Wernblom was ejected from Saturday’s Liiga game against Lukko for biting Peetro Seppälä on the hand.
  • The incident began in a first-period scrum in front of the net involving Wernblom and Lukko players.
  • Lukko defenceman Peetro Seppälä held his finger in pain after the confrontation.
  • Officials reviewed video of the incident at length before ejecting Wernblom.
  • Wernblom has recorded 17 points in 17 games at the start of the Liiga season.

IHM Discussion

The ejection removed a productive TPS forward from the game at a moment when the club was already relying on its home support.

The lengthy review was central to the decision. Officials did not make the call solely amid the confusion of the crease-front scrum; they examined the video before concluding that biting had occurred. Seppälä’s reaction after the incident also made the confrontation a clear concern within an otherwise routine battle around the net.

Why It Matters

TPS lost a forward who has been producing at a point-per-game rate during the opening part of the season. Losing Wernblom forced the side to finish the contest without a star member of its first line, changing the personnel available to TPS for the remainder of the evening.

For Lukko, the immediate focus was Seppälä after he was hurt in the hand during the scrum.

Wernblom tops Liiga scoring after seven-point start for TPS

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Wernblom produced four points (1+3) in TPS’s 5-1 victory over HIFK, bringing his total to seven points from the opening two rounds of Liiga and placing him atop the league’s scoring chart. The 26-year-old forward, who moved to TPS from Malmö during the 2023/24 season, has continued the productive form he showed last term.

Key Facts

  • Wernblom had one goal and three assists when TPS beat HIFK 5-1 in Liiga’s second round.
  • Wernblom has seven points from the two opening matches and leads Liiga’s scoring race.
  • In the season opener against last season’s finalists KooKoo, Wernblom contributed to a 4-2 win (as part of his two-game start).
  • The 26-year-old moved to TPS from Malmö during the 2023/24 season and has been productive since arriving in Åbo (Turku).
  • Last season Wernblom recorded 49 points in 57 Liiga games, making him the second-highest scoring Swede in the league.
  • Wernblom’s 24 goals last season were the most by any Swedish player and placed him eighth in the league’s overall goal scoring list.
  • Lars Bryggman, a linemate and fellow Swede, has also started strongly with six points (4+2) in two games after leaving Skellefteå following the SM gold in spring.
  • Bryggman’s four goals through two games put him level for the league’s goal-scoring lead alongside HPK forward Sami Päivärinta.

IHM Discussion

TPS have received immediate offensive returns from Wernblom and Lars Bryggman. Wernblom’s four-point night against HIFK stood out for its balance of scoring and playmaking: one goal and three assists underlined his ability to create and finish. His seven points in two games follow a productive season in which he recorded 49 points in 57 Liiga appearances.

Bryggman has added six points (4+2) in two games after joining TPS from Skellefteå. He shares the early goal-scoring lead with HPK forward Sami Päivärinta.

Why It Matters

An electric start from key forwards gives TPS early momentum in the Liiga standings and raises expectations for their attacking production. Wernblom leading the points race after two rounds signals he is a central figure in TPS’s offence; Bryggman’s scoring punch adds depth and a secondary threat that opponents must respect. For the players themselves, continuing this form would reaffirm last season’s numbers and strengthen TPS’s prospects in the early weeks of the campaign.

Mini Q&A

How many points does Wernblom have after two Liiga games?

Wernblom has seven points from his first two Liiga games (one goal and three assists in the second game).

What was the score when TPS beat HIFK?

TPS defeated HIFK 5-1 in the match where Wernblom recorded a goal and three assists.

Where did Wernblom move from and when?

Wernblom moved to TPS from Malmö during the 2023/24 season.

How did Wernblom perform last season?

Last season he had 49 points in 57 Liiga games, and his 24 goals were the most by any Swedish player in the league, placing him eighth overall in goal scoring.

Which teammate is also off to a fast start and what are his numbers?

Lars Bryggman has produced six points (four goals and two assists) in TPS’s two opening matches and is tied for the goal-scoring lead with HPK’s Sami Päivärinta.