Upon Further Review

Ellis Dee: "Every time that type of hit is meted out, regardless if it's penalized or not, parents -especially mothers - around North America declare their son will NOT play hockey; end of story, no discussion, no debate."

I guess you will never let your kids play any other contact sports for that matter, or even set foot in an automobile again, for fear of being injured or dieing in a car accident.

What people don't realize is that there is danger and risk involved in everything we do. Day-to-day life is a gamble, you may be struck crossing the street tomorrow, are you going into hiding to save yourself ?

No offense intended, although you probably won't take it as unoffensive; but if your nephew was such a "phenomenal athlete" he would have been good enough to avoid situations where he suffered being "pummeled unmercifully".

Michael made a valid point in his post : "How do you expect a guy to go to the puck in the corner, backwards or sideways?" Touche.

Shawn: Both understood and agreed that players have to be aware enough not to put themselves into dangerous situations on the ice. However, the danger here is determined simply by Jones' actions on the play, not the fact Patrice was skating in hard for the puck racing into dangerous territory. Players are taught from an early age how to puck protect, and a large part of it is keeping your body between the puck and the opponent to create seperation and a cushion. I can assure you that 99% of the time when a player cuts back or turns before the hit they are not looking to draw a penalty, they're looking to maintain posession. Bottom line is the problem lies within; Coaches teach the tactic yes, but under the assumption that the opposing players are going to be aware enough to recognize the danger as well as the responsibility required for their actions. Throughout minor hockey kids are taught the dangers of hitting from behind and even penalized for such occurances, yet somehow at the professional level the rule is thrown right out of the window. The fact that these types of hits are OK given the player that survived the hit isn't hurt in some form is absolutely apalling.

Bill Maceachern: "Bergeron knew exactly where Jones was and turned into the boards in hoping to draw a penalty, look carefully he was looking around at the time, " Bergeron was mainly searching for support in the offensive zone and the shoulder check he gave was to see which way he should roll the puck once he got to it. If anything, he may have caught a glimpse of Jones, but continued on into the corner knowing under league rules unless he turned to face him, he should not get hit. In no way shape or form was he thinking "I'll turn/stop and draw the penalty". The pace is so fast at the pro level everything is sub-conscious. Heck, it's barely slow enough to make a decision like that in a senior’s beer league let alone devise some powerplay strategy amidst a dump-in on the fly.

Sheila from Dartmouth...You are despicable..Any person who would suggest that another human being "deserves" a broken nose and the possible long term effects that a concussion can bring is uncaring & insensitive....Shame on you.
If the coach told Bergeron to turn his back, then the coach got what he deserved (the loss of that player's contribution) but to say that someone deserves to have his face smashed into the boards is ridiculous!

IF you see someone in front of you with his back to you, you should know better than to smack him into the boards face first, you have control over what to do. That is why the NHL should adopt the NO TOUCH ICING which would eliminate any chance of this hit occurring at all.

It does not matter if Bergeron did turn or leave his number exposed, you just don't smack someone face first into the boardrs, what if he was paralyzed or what if he got his neck broken? What then?

What will it take to get the message through to these players and their thick heads? Will someone have to die on the ice?

My opionion is that if you don't like the game now, don't watch it. Its unfortunate that things like this happen but there are only a hanful every year and over 2,400 games played.

So all of the people that are whining, GO AWAY!!!!

Bergeron knew exactly where Jones was and turned into the boards in hoping to draw a penalty, look carefully he was looking around at the time, that being said Jones was trying to finish a check on the puck carrier, the 2 games was enough of a suspension as it wasnt anyhting like the other 2 Flyers players.

I can't believe what I'm hearing. People are blaming Bergeron like it was his fault. This is what is wrong with hockey.

When people learn to take hits they're told to stick to the boards so that they don't get hit once by the player, and a second time when they slam into the boards. That's one of the first things you learn about the contact aspect of the game but players in the NHL aren't doing it in these cases. Shielding the puck a few feet away from the boards and facing them is done all the time these days but you can't expect not to run the risk of getting injured when you do it. In a lot of games a player will be about to hit a guy from a clean angle and the other player will turn their back to them. It's stupid, but happens all the time.

Chris S: Patrice put himself in that position well before he touched the puck. When he almost reached the boards then he made his play.

I'm saying that the onus should be on players to not place themselves in such dangerous situations. On way is to penalize this particular situation. This situation does not allow a player to protect himself. And if it is used to draw a penalty where one player could be severely injured or killed it should be removed from the game. Coaches teach this tactic to thier players, this tactic should be removed, it is just too dangerous.

why is it everytime some idiot throws an UNECESSARY head shot in the NHL the injured player is made out to be stupid? lets just let this CRAP until some one does get killed. if you want blood watch that junk known as ultimate figihting

All hockey players are told to protect the puck at all times. Unfortunately, when it is around the boards, this puts you in a vulnerable position.

The hit is not in the same category as the Boulerice and Downie hits, so the suspension was probably fair. There was no intent to injure, though the result was very unfortunate.

This article is pure speculation and way off base. Why would the Bruin's coaching staff recommend this? Sure you might draw a major penalty that is worth maybe one or two goals and maybe winning the game. However, you would lose an arguably skilled player like Bergeron for several games. Makes no sense, unless most coaches are morons like Barry Melrose.

You also have to question why Bergeron or any player would risk a serious injury just to draw a penalty. Do you seriously believe that Bergeron was thinking "Hey, I hope I get a broken neck so my team gets an extended power play!"

To those who suggest that exposing your back to a checking player is just a cheap tactic to draw a penalty - I suggest speaking with one of the several kid's whose careers have been shortened because of a concussion/back/neck injury and see what they think about that.

PS - liked the comment from AWH below

Bergeron left himself in a bad position. It's a tactic thats been used more and more since they started calling boarding again. The forward is basically daring the D to hit him and get a penalty. Doesn't work at current NHL speeds though. Shelia is right: Bergeron got what he deserved.

Any malicious acts of violence on the ice should be punished with a minimum of ten games....If an injury occurs, extend the suspension equal to the amount the injured player misses....The league wants to protect their players, stars or not, then set an example.....This is 2007 not 1907.....The punishment should fit the crime......Go Habs!!

Once again in hockey all the attention, this week, has been the hitting from behind. It's plain to see that the remaining fundamentals of old school hockey are all but lost. If you take a run (charge) at someone who has their back turned to you; your yellow and deserve to get the **** kicked out of you and get a 25+ game suspension.
On the other side of the glass; if you have the puck and you are standing 6 feet away from the boards knowing a 6 plus foot 200lb athlete is bearing down on you and decide to turn your back on him...Well, as Don use to say, "your just stupid."

Thats quite a comment to make Sheila, thats certainly not what he deserved, nobody deserves that. Also if you have actually watched the replay closely he did not turn at the last second, he was racing in with his back to Jones the whole time, Jones needs to realize in that situation that he needs to let up, pin him to the boards don't drive him into them. Also Bergeron could have avoided it had he went in and was turned to the side. They both had things they should have done.

Bergeron or any other player should not be hit from behind turn or not. The rules committee of the nhl should have a no hit zone 10 feet on either side of the net. I know im goint to hear it but if you look at the injuries by hits clean or dirty it just makes sence to change the rules. I also beleive there should be no touch icing in the nhl. By applying these new rules a whole new concept of play would develope and we would see better hockey.

It was by far a clean hit but the league most do its duty and hand out some kind of suspension-if bergeron would have turned left or right when he got the puck this would not have happened, instead he opts to stop 3 feet before the boards-hence the outcome...

Although I cheer for the Bruins...I don't think a suspension is warranted on the latest hit we have seen. Some of these players are putting themselves in this position and rolling the dice. I say take out the instigator penalty and we will see men player hockey again. The new rules on holding stick work etc...I agree it has sped the game up tremendously! Too many are taking liberties on the stars in other ways. So sorry Patrice keep your head up and always keep your eyes on the play.

Jared: No kidding! I don't know if you recall but a season ago a Buffalo player got rocked from behind in the danger zone right behind the net but managed to do a full summersault to protect himself at the last second. I believe it was Jochen Hecht but could be mistaken, however - if said player did not "tuck and roll" chances are he'd be getting his food fed to him through an IV for a while. How people can feel this was what they "deserved" for turning, etc. makes me sick to my stomach.

Mark : Decent theory on the suspensions and fines. I think if we tooled this idea a little bit it would be well worth a pitch to the league and would definately bring players and teams to a quick realization this has to stop.

Randal: Jones is spendind what, his 3rd year in the league? 4th? He's pretty much a 3rd line defenseman. If you're playing within the 3rd set of D, you better only be getting a penalty every couple games, because if otherwise you wont play - period. He's not a goon, but he's far from a finesse D as well, and with limited minutes you wouldn't see him accumulate the PIMS say Ben Eager has (even though Jones has the most PIMS on the Flyers current roster).

Dan: Correct, if Bergeron is using all the tools he knows to try and coral the puck and maintain posession, in no way shape or form should that give Jones the right to check him in that manor. The onus is on the player providing the hit not to make it dirty, not the player recieving.

That's about as far as I can go on for today's rant... I'm looking forward to reading the responses that will come of this.

Scott Piatkowski: Undoubtedly Bergeron was left with no options. I bet you the last thing he remembers is looking at the puck. If it was a clean hit he would have had a reasonable chance to atleast see Jones bearing down on him. What bugs me even more is the fact that defensemen knowingly slow up heading into the corner so the forward can attack the puck first, and then the D can pounce on them, not vice-versa. It will be a sad day when someone gets chased down the ice and gets nudged into the danger zone and either breaks their neck or dies on the ice.

George: Incoming train? You are a joke. Anybody that thinks driving somebody's nose into the glass from behind is a clean hit has to get their head on straight. You should go visit Patrice and get your head examined while you are at it.

Gary: 30 Years ago players barely played body contact. The game has evolved, the equipment has evolved, and so has the skating and checking. What this leaves us with is a formula for alot more high intensity, high speed collisions. If you would strap the old-school gear of yesteryear on todays players and had them check like they currently do you would have a league injury report 300 players long. As for the spears not being a concern anymore, exactly?!... when't the last time you saw a spear ? I wouldn't be concerned about it because this isn't Sparta!

david: "What we see now is probably the result of over expansion and the dilution of player talent in the NHL." The current day NHL has more talented players than ever before, so I don't know how you can argue that fact. Don't come back at me with the numbers game either because you cant put up points in today's NHL like you cold the NHL of old because the talent is much more equal across the league, yet you still have players like Crosby able to finish with 125 PTS in a season.

Marco-Lavoie: It is not Bergeron's training that is at fault and should be blamed, it's Jones' that gave him the idea he could rock a guy from the blindside.

Keyan: Precisely !!!

A.W.H: This isn't soccer or baseball, both of which have NO BODY CONTACT and this sure isn't football with 25 players on the playing surface (which not to mention is ICE). Respect the fact the sport is unique and has always allowed fighting within the game. If two guys decide they're upset and want to dance with each other why should we hold them back? It's entertaining, usually two tough guys who can hold their own anyways, probably settled a score, and creates a huge momentum boost for the team that won the tussle. There are maybe a scrap or two per game, it's not like the teams are brawling for 60 minutes! Focus on the real issue at hand, the dirty hits, not the clean fights where two guys square off and go at it willingly!

Ken: The corner-allergic European hockey comment was gold, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dan Angelakis: Bergeron is actually considered a fave of Cherry's and this has been proven evident from previous canadian/boston matchups as well as when Patrice came up through the world junior ranks. The player who suffers the injury should not determine the length or the severity of the punishment. What makes Crosby's right to walk any more important than Bergeron's? It's unfortunate because Cherry's a classic but I think his hockey sense has begun to slip and he still has that old-school mentality. I can't think of any examples off the top of my head but I remember I didn't like when Don made it clear he thought visors were a waste of time, shortly after Mats Sundin nearly lost his eye.

Shawn: I don't think a rule like that would work simply because Bergeron was not at fault in the collision. If you notice when he was flying in to chip the puck around on the fore-check, that the puck was not on his stick longer than a mere split second before it was off rolling around the boards after the chip, and then his head driven into the ledge of the boards before he could react to even turn away. How could you penalize Patrice when he was unconscious and unable to even make his way to the penalty box?

BR: I've supported that idea since the old rule, and haven't been a big fan since the change has been made.

Gil: It's one specific type of check that injures people when they're hit along the boards in that manor. It's unnecessary to remove all body checks along the boards and it would limit the ability to battle for the puck by a great deal. You would find players curling towards the boards to create space, since they know they wouldn
't be touched; which is not what we want. Point is, you shouldn't be laying a hit on an opponent if you can see his numbers, period. Whether you think he's turning into you or not. I don't think that the money comes into play at all, it's more on the desire to win and the do anything to get the cup mentality. Spur of the moment you aren't thinking is Bergeron going to be OK? You're going after that puck and possibly the hit to create seperation, and you're going to lay the hit hard so you can get it.

Adam Antoszek-Rallo: Agreed, teams should be fully responsible for everyone they hire within their organization and have to deal with the consequences if one of their "employees" choose to represent them poorly, aka the Boulerice chop.

Joe : "As a young player we spent hours just doing contact drills. It was important to the game and to safety. Hockey is a contact sport. To teach players how to skate faster and not teach them how to hit clean or take a hit is not very responible. Minor hockey needs to have contact at Atom A and up in house league." Couldn't have said it any better myself. In regards to the toes pointed to glass theory you are very correct. I'm not positive if it was implemented nationwide but when I came through hockey we were all given miniature stop signs to sew onto the backs of our jerseys as a last second reminder not to plaster opponents face first into the boards. Useful tool? I'd say so, but why are kids taught to avoid dangerous hits from behind all throughout their minor hockey careers and then at the NHL level there is no infraction for such a hit? Boarding, charging, head hits etc. but none address being clobbered from behind, which is what I think needs to be brought to an IMMEDIATE halt to save lives and include zero-tolerance hitting from behind penalty. I'm reminded of a Vancouver/Detroit playoff series where Todd Bertuzzi flipped the puck in from center, wheeled into the corner and crushed Chris Chelios from behind, yet the league feels this is acceptable pending the player can skate away.

Sherry: Spot on.

Ben: Agreed. There was more than enough time for any reasonable player to make the decision not to drive his arms into Bergeron's numbers while he's racing full speed to get the puck.

Luc: Agreed as well. I too have personally suffered from a few concussions from hockey related hits. One or two ugly ones, but I was the first to admit when I got unloaded on trying to dangle, that I should have had my head up. Clean open ice hits are not the problem, the head hunting and charges from behind need to be addressed.

Ron Woodman: Yes, banning NHL from TV would stop the awful hits, Great point! /end sarcasm

Eric Martin: To touch on your "Since when was mindless, testerone-driven violence ever a cure for anything?" comment, what would you like to see happen when a checking-line player goes after a team superstar and obliterates them with a dirty hit? I can assure you if you are a fan of the team with the now injured franchise player, you are out for vengeance. Hockey players understand that if you are going to make dirty plays, sooner or later you will be forced to answer the bell and pay the piper. Unfortunately the reason you don't play, watch or like hockey is the same reason you pick roses and color rainbows, you aren't built for the sport bud. And contrary to your belief that fist-fighting is not a sport like wrestling or boxing, what would you consider the UFC? Boxers ONLY use their fists. Can't blame you for thinking that fighting isn't a real part of the Hockey game since you don't like nor play the sport, but fighters in the NHL and in hockey in general DO practice fighting and their techniques in practices. Many actually box outside to improve their coordination/hand skills, ie. Donald Brashear. " In case you haven't noticed, the fighters typically fight themselves and use it as a took to pump up their team. Problem for you I guess would be that hockey isn't like "every other team sport" you can think of. When did hockey change? It never has. Fighting has been there since the beginning of time for this sport and will continue that way until a fighter bigger than Zdeno Chara comes along and unfortunately puts somebody into a coma. I don't even need to say much regarding the accusation that players are REWARDED for the type of hit Patrice Bergeron suffered except that it shows true idiocy contained within 95% of your post.

Lee Adams : Hitting from behind penalties such as this can produce devastating results for a player's career and life. I don't condone actions like Steve Downie's blatant run at Dean McAmmond but atleast Dean had a chance to see Steve coming, if he would have lifted his head for a brief moment. The concussion was a result of his head impacting the boards on the spin, not the initial hit, and most hockey players will vouch for that. Remember these are professional players that even as rookies have played competetive hockey for 10-15 years minimum, and have all been taught and are aware of the potential "danger zones" on the ice. However, when a guy like Jones chooses to bee-line Bergeron from his back side you more often than not get the outcome weve seen here, or worse. When the player has no chance of even seeing the hit coming, let alone protecting themselves, they're left in an extrememly vulnerable position. In the Boulerice/Kesler case atleast Ryan was face to face with Jesse after grinding for a shift and had the opportunity to see him coming, albeit the Boulerice cross-check in hand. Worst case scenario from that? Few missing teeth, broken jaw and Kesler's playing with a chin-guard visor extension for a month. Patrice is lucky he's not sitting in a wheelchair paralyzed.

David McLaren: By "used to" what time period of hockey are you referring to? Since the league was brought to terms with the new CBA, the game has changed drastically, and for the better. If you think there are too many fights and too many stretchers maybe you should tune in and watch a full game one night rather than whine and cry about the nature of the game after seeing a handful of nasty highlights amongst hundreds of ignored goals and pretty saves. Turn the ice muggings over to police? Exact comment I would expect from a biased hockey noob that just spouts off when they see the highlight on the 6 o’clock news. The referees are the police in this game my friend.

This kinda article is what's wrong with hockey I supposed the victims always to blame? he "showed" his numbers so it's his fault his head got forearm-shived into the boards? Especially since Jones ONLY saw his numbers during the pursuit. there wasn't a last minute turn.. he had plenty of time.

PUHLEASE. Watch Cam Neely play, he was as tough as they come but CLEAN. Don't defend that Jones BS.

The RULES say you can't hit from behind, it seems like on offense your goal would be to get INFRONT of defenders in that case..

"Sorry Officer I know armed robbery is wrong but they but these banks RIGHT in front of me on nearly every corner."

Wow...Doha, Dallas, Arborg...good to see that people from all over are engaged in the debate.

OK-so there was fault on both sides in that hit, but the bottom line is that you don't hit if you can see numbers! I play in a league with a team that has a girl that served a one-season suspension for breaking another girl's neck. I'm still worried about being on the ice with her-I don't know if she learned any self-restraint. This is house league-so what does that tell you? Stop this in the most public, most glorified levels of the sport.

The NHL needs to put a stop to the on-ice stupidity, and they need to do it well. I'd like to see fines based on a percentage of a player's salary, suspensions that are served in addition to being benched while the other player recovers, and coaches being fined and suspended for a percentage of the suspension that their players serve. In addition, teams will forfeit their next game or games based on the severity of the suspension handed out. Also-the offending player stays on the roster of the team he was playing for for the duration of his contract, even if he is benched. That way, it takes up some room in the salary cap and along with the forfeit, hurts the team's chances of making the playoffs.

Now, maybe this seems a bit draconian, but the league needs to start policing itself properly. No one should be asking players to put their lives on the line to protect the puck-this isn't a war-it's our sport. If the NHL can't control its players, maybe we need cops at games...some of those hits would definitely rack up jail time.

I agree with C Antony. I think hockey can be played without so much excessive violence. My whole family are fans and we would like to see less violence.

There is a need to be responsible. It is not like Randy Jones didn't see Bergeron with his back to him, Randy Jones not only saw Bergeron with his back to him, he had the choice of hitting him from behind or not. Randy Jones could have just nudged Bergeron and tried to pin him against the boards instead of going full speed and smacking him face first into the boards.

The reaction from the Flyers coach doesn't surprise me at all, they still think this is the 70s and they still have that Broad street bullies goon mentality

This is like when you are driving a car and you are approaching an intersection and you see someone crossing the street, you are the one who can choose to stop and wait for the person to cross the intersection safely before continuing on or you can go across and hit the pedestrian.

I realize this may not be an accurate comparision, however, my point is, Randy Jones had a choice, he clearly saw Bergeron with his back to him and he still went at him full force. He could have went in there and battled for the puck in a less forceful manner.

It is funny how players don't care about each other at all on the ice, they all talk about how dirty hits have no place in Hockey, yet they keep doing things like this.

Any coaching tactics that can be reasonably seen to lead to serious injuries are wrong. Do I like violence in hockey? The only kind of violence I like is when a player stands up for a team member and throws a couple punches. I hate anything that involves concussions. How many people need to complain before the NHL gets the point?

I THINK THE PLAYERS WHO HIT FROM BEHIND AND INJURE ANOTHER PLAYER SHOULD BE SUSSPENDED FOR AT LEAST ONE SEASON . A TEAM WHERE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE OF THIS , LIKE THE FLYERS SHOULD LOOSE POINTS AND THERE SHOULD BE A LEAGUE INVESTIGATION INTO THE COACHING STAFF. I LIKE TO WATCH HOCKEY PLAYERS PLAY NOT TRY TO KILL EACH OTHER.

I used to watch hockey with my son. Not anymore. Too many fights. Too many goons. Too many stretchers on the ice. I notice the NFL has rules against hitting players in vulnerable positions and against tactics that put players at risk (such as grabbing a face mask). That game hasn't suffered.

I'll start watching hockey again when the League cleans up it's act. In the meantime, on ice muggings should be turned over to the police to deal with.

NHL really stinks. i seldom watch a game anymore. Ban NHL fform tv and put on some decent hockey....like the juniors or women's hockey. Now that would be entertainment.

A previous commenter claims that fighting "is an upfront way of dealing with an on-ice problem". What?!?!? Since when was mindless, testerone-driven violence ever a cure for anything?
This is exactly the reason why I don't play, watch, or like hockey and probably never will. Fist-fighting is NOT a sport like boxing or wrestling which require skill and practice. If it was actually a real part of the game, players would be throwing punches at each other in practice as well and perfecting their technique. In every other team sport I can think of, fighting is immediate grounds for expulsion from the game and possible suspension. When did Hockey change and allow such boorish, awful behaviou?
We need to stop rewarding players for this who are setting examples for our kids and clean up our national game (not my national game).

Some good points above, but has everyone forgot what they learned playing hockey as a kid?
I can't comment on the pro game, but what I see at the minor hokcey level is scary.

Bottom line is never point your toes at the boards, and your shoulders are to be against the boards at all times.

Why.... you can not get back up ice quick enough on the transistion, and the least little bump drives you into the glass, where you cannot do anything, and you can be injuried.

I think that taking the hitting out of minor hockey and all the complaints about the contact at minor hockey is part of the problem. Most House leagues, which repersent the the largest precentage of the players are none contact. How can this be? My son plays in a contact house league, at PeeWee A. He could easily play competitive, but I choose to not go that route, (time / money). The best house league players are moving fast on the ice. Incidental contact happens, but because most kids never have been coached on how to hit, or more importantly how to take a hit, they have no idea. I feel safer playing in a contact league, where players learn a bit about the contact, and have to learn to keep there head up then a league where there is no training on hitting or being hit. As a young player we spent hours just doing contact drills. It was important to the game and to safety. Hockey is a contact sport. To teach players how to skate faster and not teach them how to hit clean or take a hit is not very responible. Minor hockey needs to have contact at Atom A and up in house league.

Skillful hockey is speed, combined with contact to contain the speed.

Sorry, but I have been a fan since the 60's and have gone through many bullies and bad hits etc. I enjoy real hockey. The Flyers team itself should be penalized/fined for no control over their players. We are not talking about a bunch of 8 year olds. These NHL players are supposedly professionals, making quite a bit of money and if they can't get it right, they shouldn't be in the league. They know the rules, they know what kind of hits are allowed and how to do them. If the coaching staff/front office of a team can't control their players - and let's face it, this is not just one or two players from the Flyers - then the team should also be penalized. What will it take - another player to loose his life or career over this and THEN everyone says oops - so sorry?

I think you should all look at this replay again...he didnt turn at the "last second" there were at least 2-3 seconds, he had plenty of time to at least let up and not hammer him into the boards so violently. Even if he made some contact it wouldnt ahve been as bad.

Checking from behind is the most dangerous of plays associated with the sport. As a coach I have shown my players never to turn their back to oncoming players. Unfortunately pucks don't always follow a predictable trajectory and sometimes a player, while following the puck, may still turn his back to the play. Either way, it is still the responsibillity of the coach to instill in his team the belief that checking from behind is not acceptable. I agree with the notion that coaches shown to have encouraged either behaviour, either turning the back or checking from behind, should be fined or penalized in some form.
On a personal note, my son had 3 concussions due to checks from behind last season. Each was mild and he was cleared to play by our family physician. It killed me inside everytime it happened. As a result, I no longer coach on a regular basis. This year in our league, the comissioner is implementing a zero tollerance policy on coaches as well as players. Kudos to her.
No one deserves to be hurt, yes they can't skate around with eggs in their pockets and roses in their hands, but some of the problems within the sport need to be dealt with.

The NHL should put in a rule that prohibits players from making a dangerous play. The Onus should be on both players to make safe plays. This new rule should be punished as severely as the hit from behind. And if possible somehow link them so that both teams will have players in the sin bin for an equal amount of time and thus removing any tactical advantage this type of play brings. Bergeron is very luck he can breathe right now let alone walk.

Why not go back to allowing the netminder to play the puck behind the goal line ?

The suspension was adequate. He has to be punished, but sometimes when you're barreling in to finish a hit and the guy turns, unfortunate things can happen. The difference between this and the other suspensions is intent, there is none here, the only problem is that the consequences are potentially much more severe.

Michael, not sure where you did you're reasearch, but Jones is hardly 6'5". He's listed at 6'2", 205 lbs, he might be 6'1". Bergeron is 6'1" 190, not a whole lot smaller...

Ellis, it's foolish to say he would have got the season had it happened to Crosby. I'm not naive enough to think he might not of got a few more games, but be realistic. Bergeron is a star on his team and in the league, it doesn't make that much a difference...

Campbell got it right...

I can see both sides of the issue here. Bodychecking is not the main component of the game, so maybe it should not be practiced or allowed to be thought of in that regards. Ban or severely limit its use along the boards? That would certainly take away the possibility of some of the more serious injuries players face nowadays. And yet there have been some great, legitimate, hits that have happened along the boards. And no one can tell me that they haven't reacted to those hits, no matter which of the two players involved in the hit that they were cheering for. Also, it is a knee-jerk reaction for all players to want to spin away from opposing checkers in order to maintain possession of the puck. They don't have the valuable time necessary to analyze a situation and then act on an unhurried decision.
And, yet, those delivering the checks must know of the possibilities and ramifications of those hits. Has the value of the big money contracts superceded the true, real, love for the game itself, which would include keeping in mind the well-being of all? Ask McCammond, or any other of the more recent victims.
But hockey is a contact sport, and it should always be. Maybe the league could bring back Howe, or Sittler, or O'Reilly , or Bossy, and lecture on how to play a career and not be very seriously hurt by bodychecks. Maybe that's a lost art?

forget if Bergeron did something stupid - regardless fact is that while he did something stupid someone else did something worse and dangerously disrespectful. And seeing as it is the 3rd time this season a player from the Flyers have done something of this sort I think we need to look at the problem with a broader view - namely, teams and coaches etc. are responsible for the sorts of players they (a) hire (b) condition and (c) train. But I take this one step further: teams are responsible for hiring and training their player with respect and suitabel restraint. Want to hire players who play a little too close to that edge, and encourage them to run everything on the ice? Fine, but from now on suspensions (as well as misconduct penalties) should affect the entire team, just like minor penalties do. Why are the consequences for a minor penalty more damaging to the team than the suspension? Once a player is suspended, the team must play with a shorter bench/roster until the suspension is over. And if that player was assigned 20 minutes of penalties on a play, well you get the idea. This will immediately bring a level of accountability to players and their teams that will force every team to take a cold hard look at the players they hire, and what they are training them to do.

"THEY SAY- THE EXPECT" hockey is all about speed, well look what speed is doing to the game of hockey, I say speed can kill. I totally agree coaches who demand "force" players to put themselves at rick should be fine. With today's speed and contact in the game along with high skill players , the league should track down, coaches who demand their players put themselves at rick for enjury. Speed isn't everything let the players think for themselves , in order to identify & avoid dangereous situation. They league should start recruting not only speed but hockey sense as well. Bourgerons should have played the body not the puck and perhaps in his rockie years that exactly what he would have done, peer pressure & coaching tactics are to blame. "THEY got to him and he is lucky to get away with only a minor enjury. It is time for coaches to be accountable & the league to establish a system to monitor what kind of playing systems are been impose on players for a win.

What will it take to give a coach a guilty conscience? In my opinion, if it is the case of a coach telling a player to put himself in a vulnerable position, will that coach feel guilt if the player is paralyzed or dies on the ice? I would certainly hope so. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but it looks like that’s where we are heading. The player on the other hand, has some of the control. Keep your head up and be prepared as best you can and let coach bench you if he wants. Isn’t it better to be making 2 million dollars a year sitting on the bench rather than in a wheel chair?

Bergeron should have turned left or right when he reached the puck,instead he opted to stop 3 to 4 feet from the boards-hence the outcome.It was not a cheap shot by any means, just plain stupidity.Go rent Mats Sundins video and it will show you how this is done to prevent injury.Good players get hurt in hockey,,, Good players that are also smart ones don't... GO LEAFS

Although I agree it is a strategic move on their part to show their "numbers" at the boards, I don't think they or their coaches should be found at fault for the hit that ensues; it is the player hitting from behind that is guilty of not adhering to league rules. By placing the blame on the positioning of the player at the boards is nonsense. An analogical argument to such would be placing the blame on young girls wearing revealing clothes to entice sex offenders. Again it is the offender who is at fault, no matter how much the victim made themselves a desire.

As a former minor hockey player who has been on both the recieving and incidental giving side of a check from behind, my first reaction when seeing the hit was that it was truely an accident. Now it was clear that going into the corner Jones had full intention of playing the body to win the battle in the corner. Yes, Bergeron's back was facing Jones, however he was beginning to turn at the last minute (a tactic used to throw off the incoming player)... Here in-lies the problem. Bergeron starts to stop about 1-2 feet away from the boards with Jones right on his tail. Anyone who has played hockey at any point knows that by being in that 1-2 foot area away from the boards you are putting yourself in potential danger; And unfortunatly for Bergeron, Jones followed through on what normally would have been a clean side-on hit had Bergeron not turned/began to stop. Jones got a fair punishment from his crime. Minor hockey players recieve game misconducts for hits from behind, accidental or not, and there is no reason why this rule shouldn't apply to the NHL. Was it a hit from behind? YES... was it 'goonish' or attempt to injure?... i don't believe so, just an unfortunate sequence of events that has been blown out of proportion because of two previous incidents on the flyers team.

Hockey has lost all perspective on the spirit of human sport competetion... uh, unless the definition of competition includes all out war. Why bother with suspensions and time-wasting debate? Pull out the stops. Introduce weapons. Think of the ratings opportunities!

When the first death occurs because of a Bergeron-Jones style play, the NHL and AHL games will require significant adjustment. Many fans will be lost and the business of hockey will be hard hit. But why wait until then; send a message now. Switch to the OHL, WHL, or Quebec major junior. Better still, go support you local Atom or PEEWEE team and save a few hundred dollars. Use the savings to buy the kids some drinks out of the kindness of your heart.

The fans want fighting?

The fact that fighting is tolerated in hockey is RIDICULOUS. Fighting has absolutely NOTHING to do with the goal of sport, which is to get the puck in the net. If two guys started throwing punches in soccer, football, baseball, or basketball, for as little reason as hockey players do, they would not only be ejected from the game immediately, but they might be suspended for several games. Which is how it should be. I have a serious lack of respect for the NHL because they tolerate that BS. What kind of message are you sending to the millions of young fans that pounding a guy's face in is some sort of equal trade-off for five minutes in the box? Absolutely ridiculous. Maybe if they instituted a change there, we might see responsibility spread to other areas of the game, like checking and coaching.

Interesting story and probably not far off the mark. With the pressures to win so high at this level of play, the seemingly little strategies are what gets you to the cup (and the money). So why wouldn't coaches and players use it? A couple of years ago just after the lockout and the new rules came into effect, one of the HNIC guys mentioned that it will take a couple of years for the coaches and managers to catch on and use the rules to their advantage. One bit of evidence I've personally seen is in my rec league hockey where it's competitive and non-contact but uses the new rules. As a d-man I always see the good players come and turn their backs to me in open ice as well as in the corners knowing full well that all I can do is position myself why they they just step around me. In fact I saw someone in the NHL do this on a one on one break to the net just the other night. No wonder Denis Savard did the spinarama so fast - otherwise he'd get knocked on his butt. Now however, you can do it slo-mo and it's okay.

So, it's part of the new game/rule - how to deal with this I don't know but the hits from behind are artifacts of the old game/rules. the next step? Anyone seen that corner-allergic European hockey lately? Oy...

Anytime you're skating so fast towards somebody that you cannot prevent yourself from levelling the guy, isn't that charging? You can be physical and throw your weight around in the corners, even from behind, without smokin' somebody into the boards face first via charging.

As a referee, we have always believed that if the first player to the puck has time to turn his back, then the player coming in has time to turn. What is most dangerous though, are former players such as Sportnet's Nick Kypreos condoning such vicious attacks. Children across the nation see this on Saturday nite and think it's OK to try the same thing Sunday morning.

Pardon me, but if a hockey player accedes to some idiot coach's request to put himself into physical danger in order to evoke a penalty then that player in my opinion is just plain stupid. The quality level of hockeyu is now so low (thanks to the violence-focussed American influence)that it is beginning to look more and more like dog fighting. Some sport, eh?

Every team sucks but Ottawa, and Toronto are a bunch of pusies that can never beat Ottawa!

I believe that coaches that permit or have players that run other players from behind which cause injury should be fined or suspended an equal time as the player who executed the hit. So if a player loses 10 games due to a suspension there should be a close review to determine if the coach should receive a similar penalty. Fred.

I believe that coaches that permit or have players that run other players from behind which cause injury should be fined or suspended an equal time as the player who executed the hit. So if a player loses 10 games due to a suspension there should be a close review to determine if the coach should receive a similar penalty. Fred.

Like other folks have said already, if Jones' hit was on Crosby instead of Bergeron, there would be an international furor and severe punishment for Jones. This is just like last year when Drury got leveled, and nothing happened. I guess it's not a matter of how you hit, but who you hit. Finally, as a big fan of Grapes, I was pretty disappointed with his assessment that Bergeron was just asking for it. If this had happened to Cherry's boy, Kyle Wellwood, Ron McLean would have had to sedate him.

randy jones was NOT a victum of coaching tactics. it is clear in the replay that bergeron was chasing the puck into the corner from just inside the blue line. the question must be asked 'is randy jones the third flyer player to receive a 25 game suspension?' and 'seeing that it is so early in the season, and the flyers are repeat offenders for dirty hits resulting in suspensions, are the flyers going to be disciplined as a team??' so instead of speculating if jones was a victum of coaching tactics, ya can only wonder if bergeron was the victum of coaching tactics here.

My buddy told me about this column at a skating practise tonight. I couldn't believe what he was telling me - that Barry Melrose admitting asking his players to risk a life-altering injury, or death, to win a hockey game?! How pathetic, and what a disgusting set of values he has.
And what about the players that would listen to him and apparently do what he asked? What pathetic, cowardly, people they must have been. I admire hockey players because I thought they were tough and had courage, but if they are so stupid and gutless as to not stand up to a coach like that and run him out of the dressing room, I have no respect for them whatsoever. I agree with all of the people above who say that they watch the game for the speed and skill and the big hits, but not to see someone injured. It is a sad commentary on these athletes if they are so greedy that they will intentionally injure one another in the misguided notion that this will help there career. I also agree with all of the people above who say that this will kill the game. I have no interest in watching a bunch of goons who have no self-respect, and no respect for the other people playing "the game". Remember folks - its a game. That we all pay to watch "for fun".

Just what was Bergeron supposed to do to avoid the hit? Climb over the glass and into the seats? Skate into the corner backwards so that he wasn't "showing his numbers" to Jones? Give me a break. There was only one player who could have avoided this scenario and his name is Randy Jones. Two games? I thought that the NHL was supposed to be getting serious about protecting its players from dangerous cheap shots, but that may have to wait until somebody gets killed.

This player, Bergeron, should get suspended for putting himself in harm's way. You don't put yourself in front of an incoming train. The league should give him a suspension and not the player who gave the clean, legal, and reasonable body check.

It boils down to lack of talent. Anybody can throw a hit like that. It takes no skill whatsoever. There is such a lack of skill in the league that they have no choice. In the old days when there were no helmets and the boards gave a little and tghe glass was alot lower,this sort of crap didn't happen and if it did the bencesh emptied. It is called a lack of respect. I remeber when spearing was something you just didn't do and if you did all bets were off. Spearing doesn't even rank as the slightest of concerns now. For the most part if a guy turns at the last second the attacking player can stop or minimize the impact, but they won't because of the lack of dicipline. the lack of respect and the fear of losing his job. Same goes for the guy who turns. They can't teach offence because that is a gifted skill but the can teach things that anybody has the potential to do. Charging ,cross-checking, hits from behind, headshots is not a skill. It is easy to teach and easy to do. The NHL is a bigger joke than ever before. It has no vision, because the cement heads keep dragging it down. The saddest thing is that even is somo one eventually dies because of the cement heads who run things that even that will not change things because ....well it doesn't matter what would be said it is all BS.

I have pretty well given up on NHL hockey because of this constant charging and boarding. It is now engrained in the style of play and I don't believe it will be eliminated. This simply makes the game boring and very ugly to boot. It is beginning to rival wrestling and extreme fighting in the way it is presented. Pity. At one time hockey was a beautiful game. What we see now is probably the result of over expansion and the dilution of player talent in the NHL.

Kit from Vancouver hit the nail on the head. There's no rule in the NHL that says you can't turn your back to a guy and keep your head down. But what your not supposed to do is hit a guy from behind. End of story. Players, coaches, and armchair critics have to get that simple fact through their heads.

Oh, and Sheila from Dartmouth, what are you talking about? Sure, Bergeron turns the slightest, but Jones could see those numbers from a long ways back. He knew Bergeron's back would be to him if he made contact and he still chose to make the hit. What he deserved? That's sick.

There was a time in hockey that the numbers were no different than a stop sign. When you came upon a player and saw the numbers, you stopped instead of finishing the check. This day is long gone.

The NHL could fix stuff like this if they would really penalize the players making these kinds of hits from behind. What do I think is a real penalty? How about the three games, which the player would serve over and above the games the injured player sits out. This would mean if the player who is hit from behind misses 15 games due to injury, the player who hit him would sit out the same 15 games plus the three game suspension.

Worried about coaches/teams encouraging such hits? Penalize the team of the player delivering the hit from behind the value of the injured player’s salary for the games missed. The owners will put a stop to this quick, since they always wake up when you talk money.

Worried about players making last minute turns to bring this play on? Call a 4 minute major for unsportsmanlike like conduct: diving when that happens. Coaches would stop giving high-fives to players when their attempt to draw the penalty results in their own team being a man down for 4 minutes…

I thought it was a nice, fair hit!

Watch the video again. But watch Jones, not Bergeron. Jones is already turning his head to follow the puck as he makes contact. He doesn't continue to drive his body into Bergeron after the first contact; except for the fact that Bergeron has placed himself into an extremely dangerous position, and the obvious size mismatch, it's not an exceptional hit. If Bergeron stands upright, if he skates to the boards instead of stopping three feet short of them, or if he's within a few inches of Jones' size, it's a routine play: Bergeron uses his body to screen the defender away from the puck, the defender finishes the check, and everybody goes home in one piece.
I feel bad for Patrice Bergeron, who's a fun player to watch, but I agree with the observation that he sets himself up on this one.
And Jones, who apparently had 60 penalty minutes in 108 games before this, is hardly a goon. That's about a minor penalty every 3 1/2 games ... almost Lady Byng-type numbers for a defensive defenseman in this era of touch fouls and minor interference calls.
If you want to see what intentionally smacking somebody's head into the boards looks like, search YouTube for Bergeron Volchenkov, where Patrice rides Volchenkov into the boards, pushing his head down to ensure he hits head-first. Now THAT's intent to injure.

Until facing the boards with the puck, as Bergeron did, is deemed to be illegal then it is just a smart way to protect the puck. How can you rag on a player for protecting the puck in a legal way? If no one can steal the puck from him without ramming him into the boards from behind, then kudos to him. Let's not forget that as the rules stand now, it is Jones who is in the wrong, not Bergeron. How dare you all fault Bergeron for playing 100% legally, and let Jones off the hook for an illegal hit? If our justice system worked this way, we would blame women for having their purses snatched if they didn't hold it close enough to their body. You're all nuts for blaming Patrice Bergeron her. Jones hit him from behind, and THAT is illegal, facing the boards is not.

While I’m not trying to encourage a softer brand of hockey (let’s face it, the violence in this game is what the fans want)
Not this fan. I pay to see hockey skills and finesse, not gratuitous violence. If I wanted to see fights I could stay home and watch the kids for free. If hockey does not clean up its act then that is precisely what I intend to do.

No wonder I yearn for my Saturday nights at Maple Leaf Gardens when there were only six teams and hockey was just a game. Red Kelly, Dave Keon...I miss you.

Point has been missed by most people - the whole concept of body checking is to knock the player away from the puck, or allow another of your players easier access to the puck. Too many hits today should be 'boarding' calls. The game has evolved over time to allow these hits and year over year they get harder and more violent. Having played the game at a reasonably high level, contact into the boards needs to be dealt with - soon, before someone is maimed! Hard hitting is part of the game, but high speed into the boards used to be 'charging' or boarding. It's time to call these again!

Sorry you feel that, Myron. Your kids are missing out on a great experience. This is a singular incident, not to be confused with most of the events that have happened to most families in their involvement with minor hockey. I've had 4 kids, girls and boys, go thru. None are pursuing any hockey careers, but they have learned so much from the exercise. They have learned to play the most popular game in this country,learned the rules, played within those rules, and made their own choices.

Hockey is in a pathetic state, as it seems to be turning into Rollerball on Ice Skates. I am not wating my time tuning in or paying to support the sport till it truly cleans up it's act. You want to send a message for hits like this, well here is a suggesting, 1 year suspension, $100,000 fine for the player and a steep team fine, of at least 1,000,000. Nothing makes people take notice like money being taken out of their pockets.

What are you going to do?

The player who's showing his numbers isn't doing anything wrong as far as the rulebook goes. They're exploiting a loophole in the system. You can't punish the player because there's nothing that says a player has to face a certain way on the ice. You can't punish the coach, because there's no way you're going to prove that the coach thought of it or ordered his player to do it, and even if he did, where's the basis for punishment?

The onus is on the attacking player and the attacking player only to deliver a clean hit. Just because you've got a player in a vunerable position doesn't mean you hit from behind or headhunt and then claim he was in the wrong. I agree, this nonsense is taking the joy out of hockey, but crying foul isn't going to do anything. Come up with and execute a better strategy.

I agree with the above comments of skill over goonery. I have watched Hockey for several decades now and find Olympic style hockey to be far more entertaining then the former NHL clutch and grab.
If violence is not tolerated off the ice... why on?
On second thought, I'd much rather here about a brawl between the teams in the parking lot than on the ice on TV.
At least that would be more realistic and also carry with it the true life consequences. It is only accepted on the ice, because it is acceptable to us the fans, the NHL and the owners.
How many of you have been punched in the face at work in the last 12 months? Why should a player feel that pressure to receive or deliver one himself.
Actually next time I see Bobby Clark at Starbucks in Vancouver...maybe I'll Run him from behind in the line up as an off the ice 'experiment'(no not really!). The old fart probably could still kick my a**.

As I grew up playing hockey, if a player on our team was hit from behind during a play (not withstanding blatant hits from behind on a stationary player), it was clearly stated to our team by the coach not to shield the puck by skating into the boards. We practiced over and over, how to take a hit by angling ourselves along the boards towards the puck in a way conducive to the oncoming hit.

In minor hockey there has been an adoption of "Stop" signs being placed on the back of the jerseys, so there is a definite battle against hits from behind.

As a defenseman, playing the game happens in a fraction of second. You are trying to rub the player out, and grab the puck. You are not going into maim or even get a penalty. However, players know that when they go into a battle for the puck, that they will have to be physical. This physicalness is what fans love and what makes it a great game to play (the battle to win).

Players are trying to grab the edge over defensemen by turning there backs, and are causing harm to themselves. This action effects well mannered players who are trying to play the game properly, and with integrity. Look at Jones's past actions to illustrate his character. If you look at the past two Flyer's suspensions they were based on "intent" to injure. This last one comes from split second accident, where one player decided to try and take advantage of the system.

So yes, coaches need to continue telling there players that though turning might secure the puck, it places the player in harms way. duh!

My thoughts would be that hits from behind in previous era's were less numerous, because they knew enough to take the hit, and to take it properly.

Please note that this regards to this situation, and not situations where a player is stationary facing the boards, and a player chooses to run the guy from behind.

You're getting your information from Barry Melrose? Isn't he the same guy who basically said that Jacques Demers having the officials measure a King's stick was beneath him? Didn't he employ Tony Robbins in the Los Angeles playoff bid? And you then generalize this tactic as one that most if not all coaches employ? Give me a break!

The hit did have unfortunate results but I don't think the results were intentional on anyone's part. I'm not complaining about the suspension Jones received either. In my opinion when an injury like this occurs and the intention of the checker is in doubt the league should error on the side of safety. This way everyone may be more careful when throwing checks near the end boards.

For those who say violence disgusts them and turns them off of hockey I've got a news flash. You're in the minority people. You don't see anyone sitting in their seats once a fight breaks out and I'm pretty sure that Don Cherry has made a fortune on his rock 'em sock 'em tapes. Go check out hockeyfights.com They have an awful lot of members at that site.

Well,I really didn't care much for that article and I see by the postings the majority agree.Some excellent comments so far. I also have a hard time with the suspension. How much for a career ending disability?? or worse...

There is no denying that this was an illegal hit. Bergeron was checked into the boards from behind. Nobody can argue that point. The point is, both players are responsible for what happened. Jones, as he could have "pulled up", but Bergeron as well for trying to draw the penalty. But, in a game as quick and physical as this, Can you really expect Jones to "pull up"? If you have played hockey you know that most on-ice decisions are split second decisions, and if you make the wrong one first you often don't have time to change your path. Bergeron put himself in a vulnerable spot by staying away from the boards. If he had moved in another foot towards the boards he wouldn't have been hurt on this play. He made the decision to stay away and try to goad Jones into hitting him, thus drawing the penalty.

I think that the league had to hand down a suspension in this case. But, they should also talk about penalizing players/teams that encourage this behaviour of putting themselves at risk. Maybe something similar to an unsportsmanlike "diving" penalty would help deterr players from "showing the numbers".

If people really are setting themselves up to get dangerously hit, then it's yet another reason for me to stop watching hockey, and keep my kids out of it. Sickening.

I beleive that this is a systemic problem that is developed at an early age. I remember when I played minor hockey 25 years ago we were taught to never have your back to the opposing player who was steaming down on you, turn to absorb the hit we were told and that way you can actually see the rest of the play. These basic skills need to be reinforced at an early age to avoid these kinds of injuries. Many NHL players seem to think that this is the way to execute the now famous "cycle", how can you cycle the puck with the back to everyone?

I beleive that Jones could have let up but there are situations where someone will turn at the last second and that is the most dangerous situation. Players today need to respect each other and maybe it is the place of the NHLPA to step in and educate some of the younger players that this kind of disrespect should not be tolerated.

This is why my kids don't play hockey

Okay, so, three different players from the Flayers have been responsible for 3 vicious hits so far this season. Seems to me that suspensions and monetary penalties don't seem to be working here. So, what's alternative.
I like the idea of points being taken away from team league standings for vicious hits on opposing players.
Access a monetary penalty against the player if you like, however, given most players' salaries, the monetary penalty is only a pittance of their yearly salary. What's the point. Especially if the team makes it into post season play.
Take away points from the team standings and it becomes a concern. Points make a difference if a team makes it into post season play or not, or which team they face.
A player responsible for a team not making post season will most certainly spend a good part of his season sitting on the bench, or finding his way to the minors.
Owners of a team reap financial benefits of post season play. Coaches who encourage play which could jeopardize financial income of an organization would run the risk of limiting their longevity with their organization.
In closing, skillful hockey is good hockey.

You're way off base on this issue and this incident in particular. If that play had happened to Sidney Crosby, Randy Jones would have been banned for the season.

There will be a night, and it will be on Hockey Night in Canada, when a player will be struck like Patrice was, and he won't get up, ever again; he'll likely die on the ice, live, on television, and at that moment, hockey playing kids across Canada will be having their equipment thrown into the dumpster, and that will be that.

The point is there are rules enforced for the stars of the game, and rules for the rest. Respect for each other is a fallacy; there are only so many playing spots available in the NHL, and thousands of players wishing to fill them. As well, the players fraternity of elites - not necessarily the most skilled - have sway over what type of "guy" they want in the fraternity; if you don't fit in, your gone one way or the other.

Every time that type of hit is meted out, regardless if it's penalized or not, parents -especially mothers - around North America declare their son will NOT play hockey; end of story, no discussion, no debate.

My nephew is a phenomenal athlete, and he played hockey - and quite well, too - until he hit sixteen, at which point he decided to quit. It was because, being so good, he became a target, and the hits thrown at him were intent upon hurting him, period.

The night he quit, he was being pummeled unmercifully, with no penalties called. He announced his decision that night at dinner at his grandparents house, and said although he didn't mind hockey being a physical, rough game, he concluded by saying, "Nana, I didn't get into the game to get hurt".

A couple of points:
How do you expect a guy to go to the puck in the corner, backwards or sideways? Of course when you skate to a puck and a guy is behind you, that guy will be facing your "numbers." It's a stupid comment to say that this "move" is used "on purpose." If you want to get to the puck first, if you want to keep the puck away from the checker . . . etc., you will be showing your numbers "on purpose."
Secondly, if you're 6'5" like Jones you better take some care checking a smaller player into the boards or else your taking the head or boarding, etc. That's just common sense for any big guy. Or maybe we don't let little guys play anymore . . .

You make some good points,however I have to disagree with your claim that "...the violence in this game is what the fans want". I don't watch hockey to see players being smashed around, especially in an unfair and cheap way. I watch the game because I enjoy the fast pace, the blistering slap shots, the high level of skill shown by the players, the nifty plays that end up in unexpected goals, and the use of legitimate tactics such as line-matching, set-plays, etc. to create goal-scoring opportunities (And I wouldn't call setting yourself up for a potentially dangerous cheap shot to draw a penalty a legitimate or worthwhile tactic). The cheap shots, the dangerous penalties, the sight of two goons fighting it out...these things all detract from and in no way enhance the game.

Thanks.

Probably one of the best known (and gutless) practicioners of this scheme is "the best american born player" Modano. Phtewww! He has been a constant source of disgust with the game for his most of his career. If coaches are encouraging this move as a tactic in games, then maybe they should be on the ice to demonstrate it a few times until Darwinism sorts them out.

I could not disagree more with your apparent belief that violence is an inherent part of the game, or your condescending statement that fans want violence. I get sick to my stomach every time I read about another young player narrowly missing permanent injury because some bonehead nailed him from behind. I understand the occasional fight- it's an honest, up-front way of dealing with an on-ice problem. But this is headhunting, pure and simple, and the fact that three Flyers players have been guilty of bad hits in a season barely ten games old suggests that there is an institutional problem there, from the coaches down to the players. I'd like to see coaches get fined / charged when such hits happen.

Perhaps then it's time that the NHL suspended the head coaches as well as the players. And not just for a couple of games - make it the rest of the season in this case. With 3 offenders on the Flyers already this season, I think it's time to start punishing the coaches as well!

I think you may be seeing this issue in a one-sided manner. The players coming in to hit should be disciplined enough to abandon the check when the back is turned, unless of course it simply happens too fast. This I admit is often the case however, I think one may jump to a conslusion here in assuming that turning is simply a way to draw a penalty. From the other side, it can be seen that their expectation is often to eliminate the possibility of a check and force the defense to switch to taking the puck rather than bashing their heads on the boards. Its simply a question of intent on both sides.

There are two ways a player can put themselves in a position where the opposing would have to foul them in order to get the puck, skill and smarts.

If a player is fast enough to get by a defender so that he must be tripped or hooked to be taken off the puck, that is skill.

If a player is smart enough to protect the puck along the boards, by facing the boards with head down, so that he must be illegally hit to be taken off the puck, that is smart.

Both are equally valid. For a defenseman to say "He was protecting the puck too well along the boards, I had no choice but to bash his head in" is no different than saying "he was too fast I had to take his feet out from under him"

As a player you have the right decide when it is smart to take a penalty. If that penalty you enter into with full knowledge will likely injure the other player, that right is taken away, and you should be suspended if you still choose to do so.

Until there is rule banning players from lining up against the boards number out, head down, then the defenseman has absolutely no right to complain "But how else was I supposed to get him off the puck?" You're not! thats the point. He was using his brains to prevent you from being able to do so. And that is very much allowed! The coaches should realise that and should not instruct players to hit regardless of what position the opponent is in. That makes the coach even worse than the goons who actually do it.

I've seen a kid protect the puck as mentioned in the article and turn at the last possible moment, get hit from behind, and the player making the hit get banned for 3 games. Add to that the player who got hit fortunately skates back to the bench and gets a "high five" from his coach for drawing the penalty. This happens in minor hockey folks, as disgusting as it is...

Bergeron's cheap trick to show his numbers at last second resulted in his getting what he deserved.