The National Hockey League issued a harsh punishment for Philadelphia Flyers forward Steve Downie after he deliberately hit Senators' Dean McAmmond in the head during Tuesday's 4-2 loss in Ottawa.

The league suspended the aggressive forward for 20 regular-season games, a suspension which ties the fourth longest suspension in NHL history. It’s a decision that doesn’t surprise anyone, especially after, during the last months, league officials underlined the fact that the league will crack down on "head hunting," and took measures of notifying the players as in every NHL city were shown videos of what constituted illegal head shots and warned of the consequences.

The ruling was made in Toronto by Colin Campbell, NHL’s director of hockey operations, where Downie and Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren waited for the sentence.

"This issue was our angst over the summer," Campbell told the Inquirer. "People don't think we have been tough enough on head shots. We worked all summer with players and coaches and (general) managers. We showed them a video of 52 hits on what we're talking about.”

"If you leave your feet, if you target an opponent's head, if you hit an unsuspecting, or target a player ... There is no doubt there was also intent here, as well. This hit contained all five criteria."

The incident that led to the suspension occurred at 2:39 of the second period, after Downie had been hit and buried into the glass by Senators’ Chris Schubert. He responded very belligerently and his first reaction was to seek out a player to get even and McAmmond was the first he could get his hands on. According to Campbell’s statement, that constituted "intent".

Downie then glided behind the net, becoming airborne as he hit McAmmond, who had his head down. The unfortunate incident led to McAmmond’s hospitalization due to concussion. Downie was assessed a match penalty under Rule 21 for deliberate injury of an opponent.

He phoned McAmmond, on Wednesday and expressed his regrets. McAmmond, who still bears the remnants of the hit - a split lip, scratched nose and a mouse under his eye, accepted the apologies.

"He called and I called him back," McAmmond said. "He just kind of reiterated what he said on TV, that he didn't mean to hurt me.

"I'm going to choose to believe it and I think he's sincere."

Downie will forfeit $63,101.60 from his salary while under suspension. The money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.