Pardon Me While I Get All Canadian on Your Asses
January 20, 2010
Watch this (it’s going to anger you.)
Disgusting right? I’m FURIOUS. Cormier, the kid with the vicious elbow, is 19. Tam, who remains in hospital with a brain injury, is 18.
This isn’t the first time for Cormier. He has done this before.
My question is, when in the history of his hockey playing, did he pick up the idea that this was acceptable behaviour? Never mind that many young hockey players are watching him, looking up to him as the Captain of Canada’s World Juniors at IIHF this year, never mind that to watch that video turns many people’s stomachs, the fact is, THIS IS NOT HOCKEY.
This year was the first year for Dylan’s team to be allowed to use physical contact in their games. The kids went to a body-checking clinic, were shown proper ways to hit, and warned strongly against cheap shots and hitting from behind. Some may say hitting shouldn’t be a part of hockey. Whatever. It’s in the rule books and probably never going away, so kids need to be taught the proper way to do so, not to cause harm to others but to gain control of the puck, stop shots and throw the opposing team off their game.
At the beginning of our season, one of Dylan’s teammates checked an opposing player improperly, and hard. He came off the ice in a wash of joy, and said a little too loud, “It felt good to hit that kid!”
What can I say, they are new at this checking thing and it’s probably a bit of a rush, right? They’re 11. They’re learning.
His joy was quickly extinguished by Daren, my husband and the team manager. He lit into our joyous little player, telling him it wasn’t okay to hit “just to hit” and that his hit, while it didn’t harm the other kid, was unnecessary since the puck had been at the other end of the ice. After the game Daren and the other coaches talked to the kids in the dressing room about when to hit, how to hit and made them answer questions about sportsmanship and the checking clinic they had just attended. Our team hits less than most of the teams we play, but we get less penalties and more power-plays and the kids are okay with that.
Daren plays hockey as well, and tells me all the time there are guys who get on the ice with the intention of playing dirty. They do it for the adrenalin or whatever, or sometimes they are just dickheads. “We all have to get up and go to work the next day,” he says, “there’s no point in killing each other.” 10 years ago he watched as a guy took a skate to the jugular and nearly died in a pick-up game. While Daren is a bit of a brick wall at 6’2″ and 230 lbs of muscle, he can hold his own and rock out anyone who is being a dick on the ice, not everyone can defend themselves as effectively.
What Cormier did was inexcusable. At 19 years old, he should know better. He should be suspended until Mikael Tam can play hockey again, if not for life.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:40 am
I’m glad you wrote this. I never could have as well as you did.
It’s inexcusable and I truly think that he should never play again. He’s hit before like this and *luckily* appears to have only broken a nose compared to the possible life long trauma he’s caused Tam. It’s despicable, embarrassing and absolutely appalling. Shame on him.
.-= sam {temptingmama}´s last blog ..Run Down =-.
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January 20th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I think it should be for life. Maybe this sort of crap wouldn’t happen as much if that were put into the rulebooks.
Disgusting.
And I just have to say GOOD ON DAREN for the way he handles those kids. That’s awesome. Unfortunately, there are also too many dick coaches to go around.
.-= J.´s last blog ..19/365 =-.
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January 20th, 2010 at 10:50 am
I totally agree. I’m shocked that it’s the second time he’s done it. I am Canadian and a hockey fan, and I’m also okay with hitting in hockey — it’s part of the game, but it does not have to be outright DIRTY. Good legal hits are part of the game, and it’s at the young ages where they should be taught these lessons, so it’s fantastic to read about your husband and how they are coaching the kids.
I hope that guy never sets foot on the ice again professionally, at any level. What sucks is, the guy will likely not stop playing hockey, and he’ll wind up a joe-blow working at the local hardware store and join up to one of the rec leagues so he can still play, and next thing you know he’ll be one of the dickheads that your husband has to play with.
The guy needs a restraining order from hockey, period. ugh. SO disgusting.
.-= kaye´s last blog ..Helix Tri Colored Crystal Antique Bronze Necklace and Earring Set (USD $20.00) =-.
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January 20th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
You don’t have to be Canadian to be angered by that display of aggressiveness. That was an awful hit and a disgrace to the game.
I’m glad to hear of the “checking school” at that age, it’s part of the game and needs to be done correctly.
I also agree with your suspension idea. I’ve always thought that would be an effective way to remove dirty hits and players. You are suspended until the player you injured, if deemed a cheap shot like this, returns to the same level of hockey. So if an NHL’er hurts someone and that someone rehabs in the AHL, they cannot play until that someone returns to the NHL. I even say let the 10 game suspension start then, let it start after the player returns.
Also, just ban Sean Avery from hockey completely. He’s a bad influence on everyone.
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January 20th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Oh dear, looks too rough for me.
I think vicious behaviour is on the increase in lots of sports. We see it in football here in the UK, if the ref doesn’t see it, they get away with it. Think I’ll stick to swimming!
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January 20th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Did you see the soccer player who pulled down another player BY HER HAIR? This after she had elbowed another in the stomach.
The attitude of anything to win has gone to far, and must stop.
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January 20th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
You guys have have hockey, we have football. Football is king in Texas and I always wanted a little football player. Now that I have a little boy he seems more interested in guitars than he does in footballs. After watching that I hope the music thing sticks.
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January 21st, 2010 at 12:39 am
It’s stuff like this that’s turned me from a die-hard puck watcher into someone who mainly follows the highlights. Bertuzzi’s whole schtick really killed it for me, because – like you said – it’s not hockey. (Nor are penalties handed out fairly, I think.)
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January 21st, 2010 at 1:18 am
nasty. very very nasty.
and a huge bravo for daren.
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January 21st, 2010 at 1:51 pm
i feel sick.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I just found your blog, and this was the first post I have read. I’m not Canadian, but I *am* a HUGE hockey fan. This? is disgusting. I have season tickets to our local AHL team, and while I love the checking and the fights, I know that is not the way to “play”. This Cormier hit for the sake of hitting and now Tam may be permanently injured. Throw Cormier out of the league. Permanently. There is NO excuse for his actions.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Wow, that’s brutal. I just can’t imagine playing with the intent to cause harm like that, to nearly kill someone over a damn game.
.-= Summer´s last blog ..This Is Why I Should Be A Hermit =-.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 4:39 pm
So what if it’s in the rulebooks? Teach your team how to handle the other guys hitting them without doing it back, and perhaps those power plays and winning games will show them it’s not required.
.-= joeinvegas´s last blog ..Birds after the rain =-.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I wasn’t even going to watch this video, because frankly I don’t care about hockey and I thought why would I? But I did and Holy Crap! Honestly, it was shocking to watch. But the aftermath? That this kid is so messed up from what happened? I think that Cormier should be charged with assault. I don’t care if it’s a game, and if it’s a physical one. That was obviously purposefully done for no good reason, just to hurt someone. That’s not entertaining, it’s criminal.
.-= Rachael´s last blog ..Who Am I To Talk Lurkers?! =-.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Wow. I didn’t see that until now. Is Roy coaching that team? He’s not exactly the cleanest player of all time. If this happened in the NHL, you wouldn’t even hear of it in the USA. That’s why I love Canada. Hockey is always first. Good post. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!
.-= Out-Numbered´s last blog ..Nuts and Popcorn On The 7:41… =-.
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January 27th, 2010 at 11:24 am
This has been bothering me all week and when I read he was appealing the suspension this morning I couldn’t believe it. He should know better and so should whomever is advising him. This does not bode well for him and is particularly unsavory given that Mikael Tam is STILL HOSPITALIZED.
Even with the “enforcer” stuff in the NHL you don’t see this kind of sucker-punching. The suspensions this year (Ovi comes to mind) have been fair and, to my knowledge, unappealed.
.-= Laurie´s last blog ..(Don’t) Let Her Sing =-.
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