Rick Rypien given indefinite suspension
The National Hockey League’s disciplinarian, Colin Campbell has handed Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien an indefinite suspension, while the League tries to determine the length and punishment for Rypien’s altercation with a Minnesota fan on Tuesday
19 October.
Rypien was given a ten-minute misconduct for throwing a punch to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Brad Staubitz during an altercation on the ice. Rypien and Staubitz were involved in a fight when one of the linesman came in a broke it up. Staubitz was
tied up by a referee when Rypien got an arm loose and punched the Minnesota forward. After the referees were able to get Rypien off the ice he went after a fan on his way down the tunnel to the Canucks dressing room. The referees did not see the interaction
and therefore did not assess the necessary game misconduct. However, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault elected not to play the 26-year-old for the rest of the game.
The League reviewed the play after the game and has elected to suspend Rypien indefinitely while they try and decide the severity of the punishment.
The decision to suspend Rypien indefinitely is likely due to the fact that the Canucks have a game on Wednesday 20 October against the Chicago Blackhawks and would like to keep the forward out of the line-up until a decision is finalized.
Although the fan may have said something to entice Rypien, the NHL is clear about players not getting involved with fans. NHL players seem to be behind the League in this instance. Blackhawks goalie Marty Turco was interviewed by TSN and weighed in on the
matter.
“We’ve all been there and wanted to slap someone silly,” the Chicago goalie stated. “[It’s the] heat of the moment and you snap. Emotions are high. As we know and I’m sure he does this morning, interaction with fans is inexcusable. You can’t be doing that.”
Rypien has played in three games this season, recording zero points and 19 penalty minutes.
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