The 2009 NHL playoffs are in full gear as the first round just ended. I know a lot of the people in the SM 221 are not followers of hockey but I am sure a lot of you that watch ESPN have heard of the story I am about to talk about. In the first round two top notch teams played each other in a hard-hitting death match that lasted all seven games. The two teams that played were the chippy New York Rangers and the highly talented Washington Capitals. The series started out with New York dominating with their physical play. The series then turned around when super star Alex Ovechkin started lighting the lamp and put his team on the board. This brings me to the ethical issue that occured during this series . During game 5 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C the New York Rangers were getting rocked 4-0. Coach of the Rangers John Torterella was getting quite upset and he took his anger out on the fans by throwing a water bottle at fans behind the bench. He was suspended by the NHL for one game. Ethically this is horrible, where is the respect. First of you are a coach in the NHL, you need to keep your composure and have respect for the fans. You don't see players throw their stick over the glass after they get hit and the fans cheer. It was reasonable for the NHL to suspend him and I hope he regrets what he did to the fans.
The second ethical issue that occurred during this series occurred during game six in New York. I will tell you that playoff hockey is in my opinion the best sport to watch during the playoffs. The players crank it up a notch and there is so much speed and hitting. There is a player for the Washington capitals by the name of Donald Brashear. Brashear is what hockey analyst call him a goon but this goon can excite a team through a fight or a big hit in which he was trying to accomplish. During game six a player for the New York Rangers was skating down the middle of the ice and passed off the puck. Donald Brashear came out of nowhere and blindsided him knocking him out and breaking a bone in his face. Although the playoffs are full of hitting and intensity the player for the Rangers didn't even had the puck. The NHL suspended Brashear for six games. This is kind of a harsh punishment because the Capitals need Brashear for his high intensity hits because it could cause a sway in the game. But I mean if you watch the video I will post at the end of this you will see that why the NHL suspended him.
Brandon, I agree with you on both issues and I am an avid hockey fan myself. I thought that it was idiotic to see the Rangers coach acting the way he did, especially with it being the playoffs. You've got to expect to be yelled at by fans, and he's got to keep his head on better than that. A lot of people don't know this, but the head coach in hockey is very important to have, and without him they certainly weren't better off.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the hit, I have no problem with Brashear getting suspended but not for six games. It's hockey and there are going to be hits that players get hurt on, and I don't really blame the league for punishing him. Something needed to be done about that hit but not six games, and how you said the Capitals really need him this time of year.
As I recall, Donald Brashear was the same player who received the hit by Marty McSorley that led to McSorley's suspension several years ago. Ironic, but I guess what goes around comes around. I am glad you raised these ethical issues.
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