Boston Bruins' defenseman Andrew Ference awarded three-game suspension for hit on Ryan McDonagh –NHL
Boston Bruins’ defenseman, Andrew Ference, was the newest player to be inducted on the National Hockey League’s (NHL) list of suspensions this 2011-2012 regular season after the league’s senior vice president of player safety and hockey operations, Brendan
Shanahan, announced the news on Sunday, January 22, 2012.
The suspension was awarded for Ference’s backside hit on New York Rangers’ defenseman, Ryan McDonagh, who in a replay of the incident during their matchup a day earlier on Saturday, clearly shows the enforcer chasing the player, who is looking to take control
of the loose puck, and attacks him from behind.
Ference’s three-game suspension will obviously be without pay as the player will also be giving up a sum of $36,486.48 from his basic annual salary for the days he will be going without playing.
Speed was another cause of awarding the suspension as it was shown that the player could have controlled his speed but instead, did the exact opposite, sending McDonagh crashing into the boards.
"I'm obviously going as fast as I can to try to get to the puck and I realized I wasn't going to get there first, he boxed me out and I leaned back, but I was going too fast", Ference said. "Obviously, it was a dangerous position. I tried to let up, didn't
let up enough, fast enough".
Ryan McDonagh was luckily not hurt after the incident, which could have turned out much worse after such hits occur during games. The overtime hit resulted in the player being sent to the benches after being awarded a five-minute major penalty for boarding
and another 10-minute one for game misconduct.
"Well, it's one of the most dangerous hits I've seen in a while", New York Rangers’ coach, John Tortorella, said. "Nothing has to be said, as far as what should be done. I'm not going to play that, but it's a pretty easy call as far as I'm concerned".
According to the Bruins’ defender, he had no intention of hurting the player, but it turned out to be something that could have caused major injuries to the victim.
Andrew Ference will be eligible to make a comeback next month when his team faces off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 4.
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