The Canadian Hockey League announced Thursday that Saskatoon Blades defenseman Dalton Thrower has been suspended for the remainder of the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup for a check to the head during a game against the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday.

At 12:50 of the first period, Portland forward Taylor Leier was cutting through the Saskatoon zone when Thrower, a Montreal Canadiens draft pick, hit Leier in the head. Leier landed face-first on the ice and remained down for several moments before being helped off the ice.

The decision was made by the NHL Hockey Operations Department, which is overseeing player discipline for the Memorial Cup.

Leier, a Saskatoon native drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, did not return to the game, and Portland coach Travis Green said Thursday that it is unlikely Leier will play again in the tournament.

Portland beat Saskatoon 4-2 on Wednesday to advance to the tournament semifinals. Saskatoon, the host team, plays Thursday against the London Knights in the tie-breaker game. The winner of that game will play Portland in the semifinals Friday.

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