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Illegal actions in ice hockey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Violence has been a part of ice hockey since at least the early 1900s. According to the book Hockey: A People's History, in 1904 alone, four players were killed during hockey games from the frequent brawls and violent stickwork.[1]
More modern examples of violence include brawls, bench-clearing brawls, fighting, fan involvement,[2] physical abuse of officials and deliberately injuring opponents. Violent actions such as kicking, hitting from behind and prohibited stickwork, are penalized with suspensions or fines. Fighting, or fisticuffs, is also penalized but is considered by many hockey enthusiasts, particularly in North America, to be quite distinct from stick-swinging or other violent acts. They regard fighting as an entrenched, acceptable and integral part of the game.
On the ice, referees may impose penalties for prohibited activities. Off the ice, the National Hockey League (NHL) sometimes fines, suspends or expels players. The criminal justice system has also occasionally charged and convicted players. As a result, hockey has become much more regulated and the violent element much more controlled. This has been aided, in no small part, by dramatic increases in disciplinary processes and technology allowing for a high level of scrutiny of any event which occurs.
Early hockey in particular was noted for its extreme violence, to the point where two players were killed in three years during brawls. In both cases, the accused assailants were acquitted, but these and other bloody incidents led to calls for the sport to clean up its act or be banned along with the likes of cockfighting.[3] The worst of the violence waned, particularly with the advent of regulations for quasi-legal fisticuffs, though incidents continue to occur from time to time.
Cully Wilson, right winger with the Seattle Metropolitans, slashed Vancouver Millionaires center Mickey MacKay over the mouth during the 1919 PCHA season. MacKay suffered a fractured jaw and missed the rest of the season. When the season was over PCHA chief disciplinarian Frank Patrick banned Wilson from the league,[4][5] and Wilson never played in the PCHA again.
Billy Coutu was the first, and to date only, player banned from the NHL for life for violence in 1927; he assaulted referee Jerry Laflamme and tackled referee Billy Bell before starting a bench-clearing brawl during a Stanley Cup game between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, apparently on the orders of Bruins Head Coach Art Ross. The NHL's first president, Frank Calder, expelled Coutu from the NHL for life; the ban was lifted after two-and-a-half years, but Coutu never played in the NHL again.
Other incidents include the December 12, 1933, event when Eddie Shore rammed Toronto Maple Leafs star Ace Bailey from behind, causing Bailey to strike his head on the ice; Bailey never played hockey again. More recently, controversy and criminal charges have resulted from violent attacks by Marty McSorley, Todd Bertuzzi and Chris Simon.
Players who are banned in the American Hockey League (AHL) for violence are not permitted in the ECHL, and vice versa, because of their agreements with the Professional Hockey Players' Association.
In January 2012, David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, said that violence such as headshots, high-sticking and fighting should not be part of the sport.[6]
There have been two major Canadian reports on violence in hockey. In 1974, William McMurtry provided a report for the Government of Ontario entitled Investigation and Inquiry into Violence in Amateur Hockey. In 2000, Bernie Pascall prepared a report for the Government of British Columbia entitled Eliminating Violence in Hockey.[7]
All of these incidents are in the NHL of the United States and Canada, unless noted otherwise.
Name | Team | Length | Date | Offense |
---|---|---|---|---|
Slava Voynov | Los Angeles Kings | 1+1⁄2 years | April 2019 | Unacceptable off ice conduct (Voynov was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence in October 2014 and was originally banned indefinitely following his arrest; he was suspended for the entire 2019–20 NHL season. The neutral arbitrator upheld his suspension, but he was credited for serving 41 games. Therefore, he became eligible for reinstatement in January 2020.)[36] |
Billy Coutu | Boston Bruins | 2+1⁄2 years | April 1927 | Assaulted referee Jerry Laflamme, tackled referee Billy Bell and started a Stanley Cup bench-clearing brawl, apparently on the orders of coach Art Ross (Originally banned for life, but penalty was commuted after two-and-a-half years, but Coutu never played in the NHL again.) |
Dan Maloney | Detroit Red Wings | 2 years | November 1975 | Mentioned above (Banned from playing in Toronto only) |
Damir Ryspayev | Barys Astana (KHL) | 1+1⁄2 years | August 2016 | Initiated a violent bench-clearing brawl against Tomáš Marcinko and other players from Red Star Kunlun during a preseason game[37] (Originally banned for life; penalty was commuted after 1 year and 5 months.) |
Alexander Perezhogin | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) | 89 games | April 2004 | Slashed Garrett Stafford in the head (Perezhogin was suspended for five 2004 playoff games plus all 80 regular season games and four playoff games of the 2004–05 season, but the Russian Superleague did not honor his suspension unlike Todd Bertuzzi's suspension, so he was able to play in that league's 2004-05 season.) |
Todd Bertuzzi | Vancouver Canucks | 17 months (20 games—13 regular season games plus seven playoff games) |
March 2004 | Mentioned above (Since there was a labour dispute in the NHL the ensuing year, and the NHL is an IIHF member, the suspension was good for all IIHF member leagues in the ensuing season. Reinstated by the NHL Commissioner on August 8, 2005.) |
André Deveaux | Rögle BK (SHL Qualifier) | 10+1⁄2 months | March 2015 | Assaulted unsuspecting Per Helmersson during a warmup (Deveaux subsequently agreed to terminate his contract.)[38] |
Michael Liambas | Erie Otters (OHL) | 68 games (64 regular season, 4 playoffs) | October 2009 | Check to the head of the Kitchener Rangers' Ben Fanelli, giving him a fractured skull. Suspension ended Liambas' OHL career. Fanelli eventually recovered. |
Raffi Torres | San Jose Sharks | 41 games | October 2015 | Illegal check to the head on Jakob Silfverberg and interference (longest non-lifetime suspension in NHL history; suspension length was issued because Torres had nine previous instances of NHL rule violations which required supplemental discipline rather than the check itself) |
Shane Pinto | Ottawa Senators | October 2023 | Violated NHL's gambling rules[39] | |
Chris Simon | New York Islanders | 30 games | December 2007 | Stomped on Jarkko Ruutu's ankle during a timeout[40] |
Ari Lähteenmäki | HIFK (SM-liiga) | 27 games | November 1986 | Cross-checked Petri Lampinen in the face (with enough force to break the stick), and struck his head into the ice repeatedly. Longest suspension in SM-liiga's history.[41] |
Austin Watson | Nashville Predators | September 2018 | Unacceptable off-ice conduct (Watson was arrested for domestic assault in June 2018; suspension was reduced to 18 games upon appeal)[42] | |
Chris Simon | New York Islanders | 25 games | March 2007 | Slashed Ryan Hollweg in the head |
Jesse Boulerice | Philadelphia Flyers | October 2007 | Cross-checked Ryan Kesler in the face | |
Marty McSorley | Boston Bruins | 23 games | February 2000 | Mentioned above (After his assault conviction, his NHL suspension was extended to one full year from the time of the incident, through February 21, 2001; however, McSorley did not sign a new contract before the next season, and never played in the NHL again.) |
Gordie Dwyer | Tampa Bay Lightning | September 2000 | Left the penalty box to try and engage in a fight and verbally and physically abused officials during a preseason game (Dwyer was suspended for remainder of preseason and 21 regular season games; he was also fined $10,000.) | |
Jan-Axel Alavaara | MoDo Hockey (SHL) | 22 games | 1998 | Intentionally skated into an official[38] |
Dale Hunter | Washington Capitals | 21 games | April 1993 | Deliberately hit and injured Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon had scored (incident occurred in Capitals' final playoff game; suspension carried over to first 21 games of next regular season) |
Raffi Torres | Phoenix Coyotes | April 2012 | Illegal check of Marián Hossa in the head (originally 25 games, reduced to 21 games on appeal) | |
Evander Kane | San Jose Sharks | October 2021 | Violated The NHL's COVID-19 Protocols | |
Matt Nickerson | Milton Keynes Lightning
(EIHL) |
20 games | January 2018 | Abusing an official and striking a fan [43] |
Tom Lysiak | Chicago Black Hawks | October 1983 | Automatic suspension for intentionally tripping linesman Ron Foyt with his stick | |
Brad May | Phoenix Coyotes | November 2000 | Slashed Steve Heinze in the nose | |
Steve Downie | Philadelphia Flyers | September 2007 | Threw himself at Dean McAmmond behind the net | |
Dennis Wideman | Calgary Flames | January 2016 | Cross-checked linesman Don Henderson from behind (reduced to 10 games on appeal in March 2016) | |
Tom Kühnhackl | Niagara IceDogs (OHL) | November 2011 | Charging and elbowing Ryan Murphy | |
Patrice Cormier | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) | January 2010 | Elbowing Mikael Tam | |
Didrik Nøkleby Svendsen | Sparta Warriors (GET-ligaen) | November 2017 | Forcefully and repeatedly punching a defenseless opponent in the head during a post-game brawl. | |
Tom Wilson | Washington Capitals | October 2018 | Illegal check to the head on Oskar Sundqvist during a preseason game (reduced to 14 games on appeal in November 2018) | |
Sergei Belokon | Vityaz Chekhov (KHL) | 18 games | December 2010 | Deliberately hit and injured Roman Červenka and Martin Škoula |
Semir Ben-Amor | Jokerit (then SM-liiga) | September 2012 | Assaulted Ville Peltonen by illegally checking him and beating him while he was down; the team was also fined €40,000.[44] | |
Matt Cooke | Pittsburgh Penguins | 17 games | March 2011 | Elbowed Ryan McDonagh in the head. Cooke was suspended for remainder of regular season and round one of 2011 playoffs. |
Tomas Javeblad | Luleå HF (SHL) | 1990 | Attacked a referee over a goal that Javeblad disagreed with[45] | |
Eddie Shore | Boston Bruins | 16 games | December 1933 | Sucker punched Ace Bailey from behind |
Rafael Rotter | Vienna Capitals (EBHL) | 16 games | December 2010 | Attacked the referee after a high stick infraction was not called. |
Maurice Richard | Montreal Canadiens | 15 games | March 1955 | Knocked out linesman Cliff Thompson during a fight with Hal Laycoe; this incident led to the Richard Riot. Richard was suspended for the rest of the 1954–55 season including playoffs. |
Wilf Paiement | Colorado Rockies | October 1978 | Caused deliberate facial injuries to Dennis Polonich | |
Dave Brown | Philadelphia Flyers | November 1987 | Cross-checked and injured Tomas Sandström. Brown was suspended for 13 regular season games and 2 games against the New York Rangers. | |
Tony Granato | Los Angeles Kings | February 1994 | Slashed Neil Wilkinson in the head. | |
Shawn Thornton | Boston Bruins | December 2013 | Punched Brooks Orpik in the head while he was on his back on the ice. | |
Steffen Thoresen | Vålerenga Ishockey (GET-ligaen) | March 2011 | Knocking Lørenskog player Eerikki Koivu down to the ice, then repeatedly punching his head as he was down. | |
Josh Gratton | Vityaz Chekhov (KHL) | December 2010 | Participating in a mass brawl. | |
Ivan Larin | Vityaz Chekhov (KHL) | 14 games | December 2010 | Deliberately hit and injured Roman Červenka and Martin Škoula |
Sebastian Karlsson | Linköpings HC (SHL) | November 2011 | Illegal check to the head on Magnus Kahnberg that caused a concussion requiring hospitalization.[46] Karlsson was suspended for 11 SHL games plus 3 national team games. | |
Tom Wilson | Washington Capitals | September 2018 | Illegal check to the head on Oskar Sundqvist during a preseason game (reduced to 14 games on appeal in November 2018). | |
Wayne Maki | St. Louis Blues | 30 days | September 1969 | Mentioned above |
Ted Green | Boston Bruins | 13 games | September 1969 | Mentioned above |
André Roy | Tampa Bay Lightning | April 2002 | Left the penalty box and physically abused a linesman while trying to start a fight with players in the New York Rangers penalty box. | |
Matti Lamberg | Ässät (Liiga) | September 2017 | Charged Valtteri Hietanen with a check to the head[47] | |
David Shaw | New York Rangers | 12 games | October 1988 | Slashed Mario Lemieux in the throat |
Ron Hextall | Philadelphia Flyers | May 1989 | Attacked Chris Chelios | |
Matt Johnson | Los Angeles Kings | November 1998 | Sucker punched Jeff Beukeboom in the back of the head | |
Brantt Myhres | San Jose Sharks | February 1999 | Left the bench to attack Mattias Norström | |
Darcy Verot | Vityaz Chekhov (KHL) | December 2010 | Deliberately hit and injured Roman Červenka and Martin Škoula | |
Owen Nolan | San Jose Sharks | 11 games | February 2001 | Hit Grant Marshall in the face with his stick |
Tie Domi | Toronto Maple Leafs | May 2001 | Elbowed Scott Niedermayer in the face. Domi was suspended for the remainder of the 2001 playoffs (3 playoff games plus 8 regular season games). | |
Jimmy Mann | Winnipeg Jets | 10 games | October 1980 | Mentioned above |
Peter Lindmark | Malmö IF (SHL) | 1996 | Swung his stick at the referee's head[46] | |
Ruslan Salei | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | October 1999 | Checked Mike Modano face-first into the boards from behind | |
Scott Niedermayer | New Jersey Devils | March 2000 | Slashed Peter Worrell in the head | |
Kip Brennan | Los Angeles Kings | December 2003 | Automatic suspension for returning to the ice to engage in a brawl after being ejected for roughing an opponent. | |
Eric Godard | Pittsburgh Penguins | February 2011 | Automatic suspension for leaving the bench to fight Micheal Haley after Haley had challenged Pittsburgh goalie, Brent Johnson during the Penguins-Islanders brawl. | |
Trevor Gillies | New York Islanders | March 2011 | Dangerous hit on Cal Clutterbuck in first game back from a nine-game suspension as a result of the Penguins–Islanders brawl. | |
David Clarkson | Toronto Maple Leafs | September 2013 | Automatic suspension for leaving the bench to engage in a fight | |
Paul Bissonnette | Phoenix Coyotes | September 2013 | Automatic suspension for leaving the bench to fight a Los Angeles Kings player on an illegal ice change | |
Patrick Kaleta | Buffalo Sabres | October 2013 | Delivered illegal check to the head of Jack Johnson | |
Antoine Vermette | Anaheim Ducks | February 2017 | Automatic suspension for slashing linesman Shandor Alphonso | |
Luke Witkowski | Detroit Red Wings | November 2017 | Automatic suspension for returning to the ice to engage in an altercation with Matthew Tkachuk after being ejected by the officials | |
Radko Gudas | Philadelphia Flyers | November 2017 | Slashed Mathieu Perreault in the neck |
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