Midtown
03-11-2004, 12:46 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,113890,00.html
TORONTO — The NHL suspended All-Star forward Todd Bertuzzi (search) on Thursday at least until next season for punching an opponent and breaking his neck during a game.
Bertuzzi's team, the Vancouver Canucks (search), was also fined $250,000.
"We want to make clear that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in the NHL," league vice president Colin Campbell said in a statement.
Bertuzzi, 29, hit Steve Moore (search) of the Colorado Avalanche (search) late in Monday's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche, coming up to him from behind and driving 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.
British Columbia Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating.
Bertuzzi, the Canucks' second-leading scorer with 17 goals and 43 assists, sat out Wednesday's tie with Minnesota and will miss the final 12 games of the regular season, forfeiting at least $500,000. The suspension would amount to a minimum of 17 games if the Canucks, currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, make the playoffs.
The league's longest suspensions are 23 games, to Boston's Marty McSorley (search) in February 2000 and Tampa Bay's Gordie Dwyer (search) in September 2000.
Bertuzzi's eligibility for next season will be determined by National Hockey League (search) commissioner Gary Bettman before the start of training camp. The commissioner will take into account how Moore is recovering, NHL Vice President Colin Campbell said.
Campbell and NHL Vice President Bill Daly are scheduled to comment on the decision later Thursday.
In fining the Canucks, Campbell ruled that while the team did not encourage or condone Bertuzzi's action, it must accept some responsibility.
The league had warned both teams about retaliation for a hit by Moore on Canucks' captain Markus Naslund on Feb. 16. Naslund sustained a concussion and missed three games.
"We believe the Vancouver organization ultimately bears some responsibility ... to moderate the focus of its team. We believe that more could have, and should have, been done," Campbell said.
The decision comes a day after Bertuzzi had an hour-long hearing at the NHL office in Toronto.
Bertuzzi and Burke returned to Vancouver after attending the hearing. Bertuzzi met briefly with teammates before addressing reporters.
An emotional Bertuzzi apologized to Moore.
"These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you," Bertuzzi said Wednesday night, reading a statement before the Canucks played the Wild.
"I feel awful for what transpired," he said.
"To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly sorry," Bertuzzi said. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person and I'm sorry for what happened."
The incident marks the second time in a little over four years that police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city.
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 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.
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 — The NHL suspended All-Star forward Todd Bertuzzi (search) on Thursday at least until next season for punching an opponent and breaking his neck during a game.
Bertuzzi's team, the Vancouver Canucks (search), was also fined $250,000.
"We want to make clear that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in the NHL," league vice president Colin Campbell said in a statement.
Bertuzzi, 29, hit Steve Moore (search) of the Colorado Avalanche (search) late in Monday's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche, coming up to him from behind and driving 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.
British Columbia Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating.
Bertuzzi, the Canucks' second-leading scorer with 17 goals and 43 assists, sat out Wednesday's tie with Minnesota and will miss the final 12 games of the regular season, forfeiting at least $500,000. The suspension would amount to a minimum of 17 games if the Canucks, currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, make the playoffs.
The league's longest suspensions are 23 games, to Boston's Marty McSorley (search) in February 2000 and Tampa Bay's Gordie Dwyer (search) in September 2000.
Bertuzzi's eligibility for next season will be determined by National Hockey League (search) commissioner Gary Bettman before the start of training camp. The commissioner will take into account how Moore is recovering, NHL Vice President Colin Campbell said.
Campbell and NHL Vice President Bill Daly are scheduled to comment on the decision later Thursday.
In fining the Canucks, Campbell ruled that while the team did not encourage or condone Bertuzzi's action, it must accept some responsibility.
The league had warned both teams about retaliation for a hit by Moore on Canucks' captain Markus Naslund on Feb. 16. Naslund sustained a concussion and missed three games.
"We believe the Vancouver organization ultimately bears some responsibility ... to moderate the focus of its team. We believe that more could have, and should have, been done," Campbell said.
The decision comes a day after Bertuzzi had an hour-long hearing at the NHL office in Toronto.
Bertuzzi and Burke returned to Vancouver after attending the hearing. Bertuzzi met briefly with teammates before addressing reporters.
An emotional Bertuzzi apologized to Moore.
"These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you," Bertuzzi said Wednesday night, reading a statement before the Canucks played the Wild.
"I feel awful for what transpired," he said.
"To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly sorry," Bertuzzi said. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person and I'm sorry for what happened."
The incident marks the second time in a little over four years that police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city.
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 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.
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.