NHL suspends Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand, Columbus Blue Jackets’
Jean-Francois Jacques –News Update
The National Hockey League’s (NHL) crackdown continues on dangerous hits with two players receiving suspensions and associated fines by the league for dangerous play.
Anaheim Ducks' forward, Jean-Francois Jacques, got a three-game suspension and will have to pay a $23,780 fine for his hit on Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward, R.J Umberger, during the Ducks' encounter with the Blue Jackets on Sunday, January 8, 2012.
Jacques elbowed Umberger at the 14:17 mark of the third period, with the match officials signalling a five minute major penalty during the game.
The forward is known for his sometimes overly physical style of play and picking fights with opponents, hence was ruled a repeat offender by the NHL’s player safety committee who handed down the verdict.
The incident did not impress Ducks' general manager, Bob Murray, who panned the player’s actions and said that the franchise supports the league’s decision on the matter.
"J.F. hit a player that was vulnerable after shooting the puck, and he needs to be more aware in those situations," GM Murray said. "We accept the league's ruling and will move forward."
Jacques is not the only player to receive suspension orders though.
Boston Bruins’ left winger, Brad Marchand, received an even bigger penalty for clipping Vancouver Canucks' defenseman, Sami Salo, which resulted in the player getting a concussion.
The league laid down the gauntlet since concussions are something that NHL's senior vice president of player safety, Brendan Shanahan, takes very seriously, with Marchand receiving a five-game suspension plus a huge $152,439 fine.
Marchand made the illegal clip at 18:47 of the second period, receiving a five-minute major penalty for the foul.
Salo’s concussion may have aggravated things for the Bruins’ forward, leading to his large penalty, and the Bruins were not happy with the decision.
Bruins' general manager, Peter Chiarelli, was not satisfied with the league’s verdict and in a statement, panned the decision as over the top since in his opinion Marchand was defending himself from Salo.
"While we respect the process that the department of player safety took to reach their decision regarding Brad's hit on Sami Salo, we are very disappointed by their ruling,"
"While we understand that the department of safety is an evolving entity, it is frustrating that there are clear comparable situations that have not been penalized or sanctioned in the past.”
The general manager also gave several examples of similar plays where no fines or suspensions have been handed out and believed that his player was being made an example for the rest of the league.
The defending Stanley Cup Champions however, will now just have to wait for Marchand to complete his suspension before returning to duty with the franchise.
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