Associated Press
TORONTO -- Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks was suspended for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs by the NHL on Thursday for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore.
In addition, Bertuzzi's eligibility for next season will be determined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before the start of training camp.
The Canucks were also fined $250,000.
Bertuzzi slugged Moore in the side of the head late in Monday night's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche. He hit Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first -- with the 245-pound Bertuzzi on top of him -- and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed on a stretcher.
Moore is out for the season with a broken neck. He also sustained a concussion and deep cuts on his face, and remained hospitalized in Vancouver.
NHL vice presidents Bill Daly and Colin Campbell are scheduled to comment on the decision later Thursday.
A tearful Bertuzzi apologized Wednesday night to Moore.
"Steve, I just want to apologize for what happened out there. I had no intention of hurting you. I feel awful for what transpired," Bertuzzi said, reading a statement. They were his first public comments since Monday night, when he punched Moore in the side of the head during the third period of Colorado's victory.
Bertuzzi, who didn't take questions from the assembled media, spoke while standing alongside his wife, Julie, agent Pat Morris and members of the Canucks management staff. He choked up three times during his three-minute address.
Bertuzzi met briefly with teammates before addressing reporters.
"To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly story," Bertuzzi said. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person, and I'm sorry for what happened."
B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating the punch, the second time in four years police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city.
Bertuzzi's punch appeared to be retaliation for an open-ice hit Moore delivered to Canucks captain Markus Naslund last month, knocking him out for three games. Vancouver players vowed to get even with Moore for that hit, which wasn't penalized.
In February 2000, former Boston Bruin Marty McSorley was charged for hitting then-Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon, but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation.
The league suspended him for a year, ending his 17-year NHL career.
When Moore's condition improves, he'll be transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver and evaluated by neurosurgeons, the Avalanche said.
"Steve knows he has the support of the entire Avalanche family and hockey fans throughout the world," said Pierre Lacroix, Avalanche president and general manager.
Bertuzzi was an All-Star last season when he was fifth in the league in scoring. This year, he was an All-Star again and has 60 points.
TORONTO -- Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks was suspended for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs by the NHL on Thursday for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore.
In addition, Bertuzzi's eligibility for next season will be determined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before the start of training camp.
The Canucks were also fined $250,000.
Bertuzzi slugged Moore in the side of the head late in Monday night's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche. He hit Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first -- with the 245-pound Bertuzzi on top of him -- and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed on a stretcher.
Moore is out for the season with a broken neck. He also sustained a concussion and deep cuts on his face, and remained hospitalized in Vancouver.
NHL vice presidents Bill Daly and Colin Campbell are scheduled to comment on the decision later Thursday.
A tearful Bertuzzi apologized Wednesday night to Moore.
"Steve, I just want to apologize for what happened out there. I had no intention of hurting you. I feel awful for what transpired," Bertuzzi said, reading a statement. They were his first public comments since Monday night, when he punched Moore in the side of the head during the third period of Colorado's victory.
Bertuzzi, who didn't take questions from the assembled media, spoke while standing alongside his wife, Julie, agent Pat Morris and members of the Canucks management staff. He choked up three times during his three-minute address.
Bertuzzi met briefly with teammates before addressing reporters.
"To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly story," Bertuzzi said. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person, and I'm sorry for what happened."
B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating the punch, the second time in four years police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city.
Bertuzzi's punch appeared to be retaliation for an open-ice hit Moore delivered to Canucks captain Markus Naslund last month, knocking him out for three games. Vancouver players vowed to get even with Moore for that hit, which wasn't penalized.
In February 2000, former Boston Bruin Marty McSorley was charged for hitting then-Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon, but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation.
The league suspended him for a year, ending his 17-year NHL career.
When Moore's condition improves, he'll be transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver and evaluated by neurosurgeons, the Avalanche said.
"Steve knows he has the support of the entire Avalanche family and hockey fans throughout the world," said Pierre Lacroix, Avalanche president and general manager.
Bertuzzi was an All-Star last season when he was fifth in the league in scoring. This year, he was an All-Star again and has 60 points.
The score of this game stands out to me here ...this was done in a blowout, we know it was completely intentional and maybe the guy had it coming from a previous incident...It just seems cowardly to strike someone from behind IMO...THE NHL NEEDED TO SEND A MESSAGE...nothing wrong with mixing it up in hockey , but blatant stalking and suckerpunching should be left out of the game....the guy could be in a coma or even worse....Just like the McSorley attack it was way over the line...
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SportSavant:
LOL, WIL I was gonna post an ODDS on who was gonna be the first to post the article but I was too late...
It was gonna be
WIl -130
General +110
MAN YOU ARE FAST!!!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
yes WIL is the fastest this guy has a sports ticker in his bathroom..going 24/7 with an alarm sound if any big news comes out instantly. It does not matter if he is taking a dump or not he can remotely post any big news articles on the RX at any moment instantly
LOL, WIL I was gonna post an ODDS on who was gonna be the first to post the article but I was too late...
It was gonna be
WIl -130
General +110
MAN YOU ARE FAST!!!
yes WIL is the fastest this guy has a sports ticker in his bathroom..going 24/7 with an alarm sound if any big news comes out instantly. It does not matter if he is taking a dump or not he can remotely post any big news articles on the RX at any moment instantly
he should be thrown in prison. If i walked up to some guy and hit him from behind breaking his neck i would be going away for a long time. The venue should not matter.Also If he was a real "tough guy" he would have met him face to face not sucker punch him from behind. They should have kicked him out for good to send a message.
He fractured his neck. The regular season doesn't mean shit anyway. It is good to see the league finally show a pair of balls and hand out a meaningful suspension to a guy for bullshit like this.
Maybe if the league didnt just hand out 1 game here 1 game there for suspensions ,it would have cut this crap out a long time ago.
Maybe if the league didnt just hand out 1 game here 1 game there for suspensions ,it would have cut this crap out a long time ago.
Couple of thought’s
He was trying to do it face to face, but Moore wouldn't respond. He then felt it necessary to blindside him as the game was about to end, Moore never saw it coming ...that reminds me NETHIER DID NASLUND....
BTW totally agree with Angus Ontario’s statement, media was so overblown the NHL had no choice but to levy that kind of sentence, oh and BTW as far as Granato goes and the statements he’s making , that guy was top 5 dirtiest players in the league in his time , anybody see HIS high sticking incident ? 10 times worst than Bert’s.
Here’s hoping this all works out for Moore, and Bertuzzi.
He was trying to do it face to face, but Moore wouldn't respond. He then felt it necessary to blindside him as the game was about to end, Moore never saw it coming ...that reminds me NETHIER DID NASLUND....
BTW totally agree with Angus Ontario’s statement, media was so overblown the NHL had no choice but to levy that kind of sentence, oh and BTW as far as Granato goes and the statements he’s making , that guy was top 5 dirtiest players in the league in his time , anybody see HIS high sticking incident ? 10 times worst than Bert’s.
Here’s hoping this all works out for Moore, and Bertuzzi.
I know its small consolation to Steve Moore and his family but Bertuzzi will lose over $500,000 in salary during the suspension. Plus the NHL will re-visit the issue when Bertuzzi applies for re-instatement. If Steve Moore has not recovered fully by then he may face further suspensions.
ESPN.com article:
Associated Press
TORONTO -- Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks was suspended for the rest of this season and perhaps longer on Thursday for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore. In addition, the NHL will determine before the start of training camp when the All-Star forward can return. The Canucks were also fined $250,000. "This is not a part of our game, it has no place in our game and it will not be tolerated in our game," commissioner Gary Bettman said in a conference call Thursday. Bettman described the league's ruling as "stern, harsh and quick." "I think we will ultimately be judged on our response and the message that it sends," he said. Bertuzzi sat out Wednesday's 1-1 tie with Minnesota and will miss the final 12 games of the regular season, forfeiting at least $500,000. The suspension will amount to a minimum of 17 games if the Canucks make the playoffs and are swept in a first-round series. Vancouver is fourth in the Western Conference standings. Bertuzzi is the team's second-leading scorer with 17 goals and 43 assists. Bertuzzi slugged Moore in the side of the head late in Monday night's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche. He hit Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first -- with the 245-pound Bertuzzi on top of him -- and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed on a stretcher. Moore is out for the season with a broken neck. He has two broken vertebra, but his spinal cord and spinal nerves were not injured. He did sustain a concussion and deep cuts on his face. He is in stable condition in a Vancouver hospital. "I'm convinced the league was careful to take into account all the elements and acted with a clear sense of what was fair for all parties involved," Avalanche president and general manager Pierre Lacroix said in a statement. "Steve Moore's complete recovery continues to be our main concern." NHL vice president Colin Campbell said there were no excuses for Bertuzzi's actions. "It was wrong. It wasn't anything else but wrong," Campbell said. "I'm sure Todd Bertuzzi would like to turn the clock back, turn the calendar. And I'm sure we've all made wrong decisions we're not proud of ... but we don't like it, we deal with it." The previous longest suspension handed out by the league was 23 games, to Boston's Marty McSorley in February 2000, and Tampa Bay's Gordie Dwyer in September 2000. In fining the Canucks, Campbell ruled that while the organization did not encourage or condone Bertuzzi's action, the franchise must accept some responsibility. Both teams had been warned by the league about retaliation for a hit by Moore on Canucks' captain Markus Naslund on Feb. 16. Naslund sustained a concussion and missed three games. "We felt they could have done more in this situation to control their players," Campbell said. "We don't feel they took the temperature down." Bettman, in ruling next season on Bertuzzi's eligibility, will take into account Moore's health and the progression of his recovery, Campbell said. Canucks general manager Brian Burke said he was shocked at the size of the fine, saying the league shouldn't blame the team and coach Marc Crawford for what occurred on the ice. Burke refused to say whether he thought the suspension was fair, noting that he would have to eventually plead for Bertuzzi's reinstatement. "The line got crossed here," Burke said, referring to Bertuzzi's attack. "We're not condoning what Todd did. We're not expecting to walk out of here without a penalty. We understand this incident is not part of the game, and Todd understands that." Bertuzzi issued an emotional apology on Wednesday night, and would not comment on the suspension, the Canucks said. "These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you," Bertuzzi said upon returning to Vancouver after attending a hearing in Toronto. "I feel awful for what transpired." He also apologized to Moore's family and Canucks fans. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person and I'm sorry for what happened," he said. "I'm relieved to hear that Steve is going to have a full recovery, it means a lot to me to know that's going to happen." B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating the punch, the second time in four years police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city. Vancouver police spokeswoman Constable Sarah Bloor said investigators have interviewed Moore, and a decision whether to charge Bertuzzi could take as long as two months. Bettman hoped that police take into account the league's action when determining whether to lay charges against Bertuzzi. "We're hoping that there is no criminal action," Bettman said. "We believe we are adequate and appropriately policing our own game." In February 2000, McSorley was charged for hitting then-Vancouver Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon, but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation. The league suspended him for a year, ending his 17-year NHL career.
wil.
ESPN.com article:
Associated Press
TORONTO -- Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks was suspended for the rest of this season and perhaps longer on Thursday for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore. In addition, the NHL will determine before the start of training camp when the All-Star forward can return. The Canucks were also fined $250,000. "This is not a part of our game, it has no place in our game and it will not be tolerated in our game," commissioner Gary Bettman said in a conference call Thursday. Bettman described the league's ruling as "stern, harsh and quick." "I think we will ultimately be judged on our response and the message that it sends," he said. Bertuzzi sat out Wednesday's 1-1 tie with Minnesota and will miss the final 12 games of the regular season, forfeiting at least $500,000. The suspension will amount to a minimum of 17 games if the Canucks make the playoffs and are swept in a first-round series. Vancouver is fourth in the Western Conference standings. Bertuzzi is the team's second-leading scorer with 17 goals and 43 assists. Bertuzzi slugged Moore in the side of the head late in Monday night's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche. He hit Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first -- with the 245-pound Bertuzzi on top of him -- and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed on a stretcher. Moore is out for the season with a broken neck. He has two broken vertebra, but his spinal cord and spinal nerves were not injured. He did sustain a concussion and deep cuts on his face. He is in stable condition in a Vancouver hospital. "I'm convinced the league was careful to take into account all the elements and acted with a clear sense of what was fair for all parties involved," Avalanche president and general manager Pierre Lacroix said in a statement. "Steve Moore's complete recovery continues to be our main concern." NHL vice president Colin Campbell said there were no excuses for Bertuzzi's actions. "It was wrong. It wasn't anything else but wrong," Campbell said. "I'm sure Todd Bertuzzi would like to turn the clock back, turn the calendar. And I'm sure we've all made wrong decisions we're not proud of ... but we don't like it, we deal with it." The previous longest suspension handed out by the league was 23 games, to Boston's Marty McSorley in February 2000, and Tampa Bay's Gordie Dwyer in September 2000. In fining the Canucks, Campbell ruled that while the organization did not encourage or condone Bertuzzi's action, the franchise must accept some responsibility. Both teams had been warned by the league about retaliation for a hit by Moore on Canucks' captain Markus Naslund on Feb. 16. Naslund sustained a concussion and missed three games. "We felt they could have done more in this situation to control their players," Campbell said. "We don't feel they took the temperature down." Bettman, in ruling next season on Bertuzzi's eligibility, will take into account Moore's health and the progression of his recovery, Campbell said. Canucks general manager Brian Burke said he was shocked at the size of the fine, saying the league shouldn't blame the team and coach Marc Crawford for what occurred on the ice. Burke refused to say whether he thought the suspension was fair, noting that he would have to eventually plead for Bertuzzi's reinstatement. "The line got crossed here," Burke said, referring to Bertuzzi's attack. "We're not condoning what Todd did. We're not expecting to walk out of here without a penalty. We understand this incident is not part of the game, and Todd understands that." Bertuzzi issued an emotional apology on Wednesday night, and would not comment on the suspension, the Canucks said. "These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you," Bertuzzi said upon returning to Vancouver after attending a hearing in Toronto. "I feel awful for what transpired." He also apologized to Moore's family and Canucks fans. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person and I'm sorry for what happened," he said. "I'm relieved to hear that Steve is going to have a full recovery, it means a lot to me to know that's going to happen." B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating the punch, the second time in four years police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city. Vancouver police spokeswoman Constable Sarah Bloor said investigators have interviewed Moore, and a decision whether to charge Bertuzzi could take as long as two months. Bettman hoped that police take into account the league's action when determining whether to lay charges against Bertuzzi. "We're hoping that there is no criminal action," Bettman said. "We believe we are adequate and appropriately policing our own game." In February 2000, McSorley was charged for hitting then-Vancouver Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon, but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation. The league suspended him for a year, ending his 17-year NHL career.
wil.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FISHHEAD:
Way to harsh IMO
Thanks Wil<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Shame on you
. The idiot should be very grateful for not getting jail time. He should spend his time to really think what he has done not only to the player he injured, but to his family, to the fans, to the game of hockey, to the children that had to watch this act of violence and so on. The game of hockey has been going downhill for awhile and im still waiting for a death to happen to a player during gametime and it will happen if the nhl doesn't wake up and imply harsher fines and suspensions. I haven't watch the nhl since Mario Lemiuex retired, i wonder why
.
Way to harsh IMO
Thanks Wil<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Shame on you
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Angus Ontario:
Fishhead is right . . . way too harsh. A suspension for the rest of the regular season would be in order but the Canucks and Bertuzzi are suffering because of all the media attention this has received. Blown waaaaaay out of proportion.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Shame on you
.
Fishhead is right . . . way too harsh. A suspension for the rest of the regular season would be in order but the Canucks and Bertuzzi are suffering because of all the media attention this has received. Blown waaaaaay out of proportion.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Shame on you
