Hockey punch overblown

Once again hockey is making news for all the wrong reasons. Victoria Salmon Kings forward Robin Gomez will likely be charged for his sucker-punch on Las Vegas Wranglers forward Chris Ferraro during an ECHL game earlier this month.

Every time something like this happens – Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore, Marty McSorley and Donald Brashear, Chris Simon and Jarko Ruutu – I just wait for the floodgates to open. ‘The sport is too violent! Our game is under siege, another black eye for hockey! What should we do, what kind of message is this sending to our kids?!’

After awhile the media flare dies down like a bruise and fades with time, leaving only an unhealthy reminder that our modern society loves a good, violent story that bleeds.

During an ECHL game earlier this month between the Wranglers and the Kings, things got out of hand. Victoria News sports reporter Travis Paterson was at the game and saw the whole incident go down, which evaded the cameras of both television stations covering the game (which will also curb national and international media attention to some extent, as in today’s YouTube, camera-crazed age, if it’s not on video, it won’t be leading any six o’clock news segments).

“Clearly the animosity was building to the point where it was likely a fight would break out,” said Paterson of the rough play that was dictating most of the game prior. “(Salmon Kings forward) Darryl Lloyd was clearly in a verbal dispute prior to the incident with members of the Las Vegas Wranglers. As well, previous to the incident the Ferraro twins, Peter and Chris, were engaged in the type of pushing, shoving and verbal jabs after the whistle that they’re known for.”

So with the Wranglers up 4-1 with 10:26 remaining in the second period, new lines had stepped on the ice and were lining up at the faceoff dot directly in front of the Kings bench. That’s when Gomez blind-sided Ferraro with a roundhouse punch. Ferraro collapsed to the ice, hitting his head in the process, laying motionless in a pool of blood. Gomez was issued a match penalty for deliberate intent to injure and was thrown from the game. Paterson said the injury to Ferraro was caused by Gomez, but worsened by faulty use of equipment.

“The incident was so quick most people in the building missed it,” he said.

“I’d say it was the worst incident I’ve ever seen in my life. But it looked like one of those incidents where the player’s helmet strap is loose and when they hit the ice the helmet is out of place. How else would you receive a cut on the back of your head? But that doesn’t take away from the unfair act of punching an unsuspecting player.”

On Tuesday the Salmon Kings released their one and only official statement about the incident since the police got involved. “It is an unfortunate situation that is now in the hands of the legal system,” said Kings president and alternate governor Dave Dakers.

I was trying to think how many times I’ve seen Todd Bertuzzi skate up behind Steve Moore, grab his jersey, crack him from behind, then fall on top of him. It’s at least 20-30 times, maybe more, maybe a lot more. Or how many times I’ve turned on the radio to hear pundits and callers alike jabbering away endlessly about all the underlying circumstances – the previous un-penalized hit on Naslund from Moore that left the Canucks’ captain with a concussion and a bone chip in his elbow, missing three games.

The whole thing is tiresome, and I just think, God, here we go again, more fodder for talk-radio, more debate on fighting in hockey, more blabbering endlessly about something that in the grand scheme of things is really trivial. Sure, Gomez made a mistake, let Ferraro get the best of him, and Ferraro is actually injured, having not played since due to a concussion. The suspension levied down to Gomez is a hefty one too, as he will miss the remainder of the season and ensuing playoffs.

Ferraro is expected back in the lineup for the Wranglers shortly, and Gomez now has to deal with a substantial loss in pay and possible criminal charges. Within a week or two it’s expected Crown counsel will decide whether to pursue legal action against Gomez, and chances are they will. Gomez will likely get probation and possibly community service, but no jail time.

Rather than pass judgment on anyone, blame Gomez, blame Ferraro for antagonizing Gomez and going to the police, blame hockey, blame the police for pursuing what some call unnecessary criminal action, I’m just going to sit here, offer no further fodder and hope this all passes soon.

I love hockey and I know a lot of Canadians love it too. Nobody benefits from situations like these, nobody gains anything, and once again our national pastime is back in the infamy spotlight trying to defend itself from the wolves.

Patrick Blennerhassett writes for the Victoria News. He can be reached at patrickb@vicnews.com.