The 2026 IIHF Championship Disciplinary Panel for the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World U20 Championship Division I Group A has issued a pair of decisions from an incident in Thursday’s game between Norway and Kazakhstan. A two-game suspension has been issued against Kazakhstan’s Assanali Sarkenov for charging and a warning has been issued against Norway’s Ludvik Bakkevig, also for charging.
 
The incident occurred at 57:09 (17:09 into the third period) in Game #11 of the tournament between Norway and Kazakhstan. In the play, Kazakhstan’s Alisherk Sarenkov is contacted by Norway’s Brad Solheim, who delivers a hard but legal body check, knocking him to the ice. After witnessing his teammate and brother receive this contact, Assanali Sarkenov travels a significant distance from the slot at high speed to engage the opponent. In doing so, Sarenkov leaves his feet and makes high contact with the opponent’s upper body and head. This action constitutes charging, which is a violation of Rule 42.

The 2026 IIHF Championship Disciplinary Panel has determined that Sarkenov is suspended for two (2) games, in accordance with IHF Disciplinary Regulations Article 10.5., taking into account his status as a repeat offender as he has been sanctioned previously at IIHF Championships by the IIHF Disciplinary Panel. On the same play, the Panel determined that Bakkevig is also guilty of charging and has been issued a warning.
 
Sarenkov will serve the first of his two-game suspension in Game #14, Kazakhstan vs Austria, on 13 December, 2025.