Treille hit with 'harshest' ban

"This is the harshest suspension in the modern era for an individual on-ice incident and further underscores the IIHF's commitment to eliminate hits to the head and neck area," the International Ice Hockey Federation said on its website.

Treille was expelled when his blindside shot knocked Kazakhstan forward Starchenko out cold halfway through the second period of their group H clash in Helsinki.

France will have to qualify for the quarter-finals if Treille is to play again in the tournament.

Starchenko was removed from the ice and later diagnosed with severe concussion. The IIHF said he was unlikely to compete again in the tournament.