Karpat forward Nick Ritchie received an eight-game ban in Finland's Liiga for repeatedly punching an opponent in the head on the ice.

Former NHL forward Nick Ritchie has been suspended in his 10th game of the season for Karpat in the Liiga.

Ritchie, 28, received an eight-game ban for repeatedly punching TPS forward Markus Nurmi in the head.

With under two minutes to go in the second period of the Dec. 28 matchup between Karpat and TPS, Ritchie and Nurmi – a 2016 sixth-round NHL draft pick by the Ottawa Senators – were involved in a battle along the boards while Ritchie tried to keep puck possession. Nurmi pinned Ritchie into the boards, and as the puck went elsewhere, Ritchie pushed Nurmi to the ice by the neck.

Despite being away from the action, Ritchie then punched Nurmi in the head with his gloves, alternating between his right and left hands. All in all, Ritchie threw at least five punches to Nurmi, knocking the latter's helmet off while he laid on the ice, protecting his head.

Fighting is already a no-no in international hockey, including the Liiga based in Finland. Ritchie was also deemed the aggressor of the altercation under Rule 46.4 of the league and IIHF rulebook. He received a five-minute major and 20-minute game misconduct penalties. Ritchie already had holding and cross-checking penalties earlier in the game. He has the option to appeal the eight-game suspension.

Karpat led 4-3 at the time and eventually won the game 5-3.

Ritchie, an Orangeville, Ont. native, was selected 10th overall in the 2014 NHL draft by the Anaheim Ducks. He has 481 career NHL games with 84 goals and 102 assists for 186 points split between the Ducks, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames. He spent last season with the Coyotes and Flames, recording 13 goals and 26 points in 74 games.

He joined Karpat this season after being released from a PTO with the St. Louis Blues. In his 10 games for Karpat, he has one goal and five assists.

Earlier this season, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson was suspended for one game in the NHL for being the aggressor in an altercation with Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins.