NHL: Rick Rypien to face the music for scuffling with a
fan
If there was a stone tablet for ice hockey with ‘though shall nots’ etched into it, there would be just one commandment: “Though shall not get into a brawl with a fan.”
The league does not look kindly at altercations between players and fans. Historically, almost every such incident has resulted in heavy fines and suspensions. That is exactly what happened to Rick Rypien. The Canucks centre violated the league’s most fundamental
rule and put his hands on a fan following an on ice scuffle. He was immediately suspended and is not likely to return to the ice any soon.
Clearly, Rypien was a little shook up after the scuffle and all ready to explode but his behaviour is still inexcusable. That kind of physical violence stirs the emotions and the slightest provocation can then prove to be too much. That still is only understandable,
not excusable. Rypien is a human and he made a mistake, he will however pay for that.
Even if the fan had jeered or otherwise instigated Rypien, he would have still been wrong to lay a hand on the fan. In this particular case though there is no evidence of such provocation from the fan. All the fan did before Rypien went berserk was simply
clap sarcastically and comment on his unprofessional behaviour on ice. If there was something he had said in addition to that, we really can’t know.
Not to defend such actions but sports' stars are constantly the subject of verbal assaults. It takes quite a bit of nerve to hold yourself back when someone is shouting highly disturbing and personal insults at you. It happens, it happens a lot to NHL players
and they suffer the abuse quietly. It’s a two sided coin. On the one side, you have countless fans who worship you and on the other, you have that one insufferable fan who is deliberately trying to provoke you. Players face that situation regularly in away
games and almost all of the times they hold themselves back.
The league is right in handing out fines and suspension to discourage such behaviour but at the same time, it wouldn’t be wrong to keep the above mentioned fact in mind.
The NHL of course will take its own disciplinary actions but the fan in question, 28-year-old James Engquist, apparently is preparing to bring a lawsuit against Rypien. If any kind of legal action is taken, it won’t just be Rypien in the stand. The Canucks
would be taken to trial too. In all likelihood, the issue would be settled out of court with either Rypien, or the Canucks or both paying some form of compensation to the fan. Even the home team, the Minnesota Wilds might be dragged into it for not properly
separating the players from the fans.
In the litigation happy U.S., these kinds of things are considered gold mines.
As for NHL, it has summoned Rypien today to a hearing in New York. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Representatives from the Canucks and NHL Players' Association are all expected to be present at the hearing. Rypien would be allowed to defend his actions but
at this point, all he can really do is offer an apology for his behaviour.
The league hasn't had to deal with these things often but a look back at the trend suggests that the league has been taking a tougher stand on the issue. An incident involving a fan, back in 2000 was worth a four day suspension and around $50,000 in fines.
A similar incident 8 years later cost a week of suspension and nearly a $100,000 in fines. Rypien should expect something along those lines in terms of disciplinary action from the league.
Rypien has no history of misconducts and his burst of anger came as a surprise to many. “In our experience with Rick, we never expected anything like this to occur”, Canucks' general manager, Mike Gillis said. “He's been a solid guy on our team. He's a good
teammate, good in the community.”
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