Bob McKenzie of TSN has had enough of head shots, questionable hits and the reflexive defense of said play by those who say, "If you don't like it, go watch something else."
Here is his comment on Twitter after viewing Patrice Cormier of Rouyn-Noranda drill Quebec's Mikael Tam in overtime on Sunday night in a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game.
This Cormier elbow is sickening on so many levels. I have never been so discouraged about the game of hockey as now.
According to a report on TSN.ca, Tam is in stable condition in hospital and will remain under observation for at least two days. He sustained a trauma to the skull and brain, ano lost several teeth, the report adds. The league, in a posting on its Web site, says the matter is under review and it will have no further comment until a ruling is issued.
Cormier, a prospect of the New Jersey Devils, was ejected and the Remparts defeated the Huskies, 3-2, in a shootout.
High hits at all levels have been either tolerated or punished with short suspensions before. But even those decisions have been met with some push back by those who say stuff happens when you play a contact sport.
We in the Lounge would agree, but the difference here between Cormier's elbow to Tam's head and the hit Colorado's Ryan Wilson delivered on New Jersey's Patrik Elias on Saturday is Wilson's hit is legal and stays within the context of the game.
Wilson is not charging across the ice to plant an elbow. And Wilson stays within the range of the Elias's chest/shoulder. He's playing his man along the boards. (Elias underwent X-rays, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello told the Newark Star-Ledger. Lamoriello added that everything was fine.)
It's the difference between hockey and schoolyard cheap shots. It's time to teach the kids, because if you don't, that behavior will come up again and bloody the face of the game for everyone at every level.
I don't think there is a question here. Cormier's hit has no place in the game. So, based on his actions, does Cormier have a place in the game the rest of the season? The Lounge says no. Arguments?
THE SCOREBOARD
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Chicago 4, at Detroit 3 SO
At Washington 5, Philadelphia 3
At N.Y. Rangers 6, Montreal 2
At Anaheim 5, Calgary 4
The standings are here.
Recap by Sportsnet.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Worcester 4, at Bridgeport 2
At Manchester 4, Hartford 1
At Springfield 6, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3
At Chicago 3, Peoria 1
Rockford 4, at Grand Rapids 3
At San Antonio 5, Toronto 2
Albany 4, at Providence 1
At Hershey 4, Syracuse 3
The standings are here.
The roundup is here.
The lineup for tonight's AHL All-Star skills contest is here.
EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
At South Carolina 5, Gwinnett 4 OT
At Charlotte 4, Kalamazoo 3 SO
At Wheeling 2, Elmira 1
At Toledo 5, Johnstown 4 OT
At Stockton 4, Ontario 2
The standings are here.
QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Cape Breton 8, Baie-Comeau 0
At Halifax 2, Drummondville 1
At Rimouski 4, Shawinigan 3
Quebec 3, at Rouyn-Noranda 2 SO
At Saint John 6, Chicoutimi 0
At Val-d'Or 2, Lewiston 1
Victoriaville 5, at Montreal 1
The standings are here.
The roundup is here.
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Brampton 5, Sarnia 2
At Guelph 8, Sudbury 3
At Mississauga 2, Owen Sound 1 OT
At Ottawa 3, London 2 SO
Barrie 3, at Saginaw 2
At Oshawa 6, Kingston 5 SO
The standings are here.
The roundup is here.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Kootenay 3, at Calgary 1
At Chilliwack 5, Red Deer 1
At Moose Jaw 5, Edmonton 3
At Everett 4, Seattle 3 OT
The standings are here.
The roundup is here.
UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Waterloo 5, Tri-City 3
Cedar Rapids 2, at Omaha 0
At Sioux Falls 2, Fargo 1 OT
The standings are here.
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