The NHL cannot expect to be taken seriously when time after time the league goes against their own rules, and does not enforce what they say they “believe” in. Commissioner Gary Bettman and the main video room in the NHL’s Toronto offices wanted to ban hits to the head. When it came down to it, did the league’s officials really bare down to stop them? It sure didn’t seem like it, because hits to the head went without suspensions which sure wouldn’t stop a player from doing it again.
The situation with Boston Bruins’ defenseman, Aaron Ward, is another example of how the league is going against their ruling. In Sunday night’s game five versus the Carolina Hurricanes, Ward was sucker punched in the face by Hurricane forward Scott Walker. Walker received a 10 minute game misconduct, 5 minute fighting major, and a 2 minute instigating penalty.
If a player receives an automatic game misconduct within the last few minutes of a game, it is carried into the next game, hense the term “automatic”. Was this the case for Scott Walker? No, the NHL dismissed the automatic suspension and simply fined him $2500. This decision is basically telling all fans, players, and teams that it is only an automatic suspension when Colin Campbell feels like it.
When interviewed about the situation, Ward had said, “It showed me, based on the decision, that I don’t matter to begin with, so to voice my opinion isn’t worth it.” This is the message being sent to a player who was punched, on a cheap shot. Hurricane President and General Manager Jim Rutherford, however, has a different opinion. “We are satisfied with the league’s ruling,” he stated.
The situation with Boston Bruins’ defenseman, Aaron Ward, is another example of how the league is going against their ruling. In Sunday night’s game five versus the Carolina Hurricanes, Ward was sucker punched in the face by Hurricane forward Scott Walker. Walker received a 10 minute game misconduct, 5 minute fighting major, and a 2 minute instigating penalty.
If a player receives an automatic game misconduct within the last few minutes of a game, it is carried into the next game, hense the term “automatic”. Was this the case for Scott Walker? No, the NHL dismissed the automatic suspension and simply fined him $2500. This decision is basically telling all fans, players, and teams that it is only an automatic suspension when Colin Campbell feels like it.
When interviewed about the situation, Ward had said, “It showed me, based on the decision, that I don’t matter to begin with, so to voice my opinion isn’t worth it.” This is the message being sent to a player who was punched, on a cheap shot. Hurricane President and General Manager Jim Rutherford, however, has a different opinion. “We are satisfied with the league’s ruling,” he stated.
The league supposedly has no tolerance for any violent action in the remaining minutes of a game when the score has already been settled. Walker got off pretty easy, seeing as though Ward could have been seriously injured.
The Bruins take on the Canes tonight at 7, and Aaron Ward just wants everyone to let this go and focus on the game. “It’s a joke, and we’ll just move on from there,” stated a very serious Ward after practice. So I guess all anyone can do is move on, and hope from here on out the league is just a little bit more careful with their decisions.
1 comments:
I think Todd Bertuzzi set the mark for sucker punches and for all intents and purposes, he got away with it. when stuff like this happens, it totally blows the credibility of the league and hurts them in the long run. I hope they get their act together before someone really does get hurt.
Good Blog, Hailey.
AmandaLyn
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