TORONTO (Sep. 12) -- The National Hockey League today suspended Maple Leafs’ forward Mark Bell without pay for 15 regular-season games. Commissioner Gary Bettman levied the suspension for Bell having engaged in, and acknowledging conduct deemed to be “dishonorable, prejudicial to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey” in violation of NHL By-Law 17.
The suspension is the result of an alcohol-related car accident that Bell was involved in on Sep. 4, 2006 near San Jose, Calif. Bell allegedly rear-ended another vehicle, injuring the driver. Bell was located away from the scene and his blood-alcohol level was almost twice the state legal limit. He pleaded no-contest to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and hit-and-run, and will serve a six-month jail term in Santa Clara, Calif. after the coming season. The 27-year-old native of St. Paul’s, Ont. became a Leaf back in June as part of the trade that brought goalie Vesa Toskala to Toronto. He is currently in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse And Behavioral Health Program (SABH) and is being monitored by a pair of doctors in the program. Once they determine Bell is fit for reinstatement to active status, he will begin serving the 15-game suspension. If active status is restored prior to the regular season, Bell will be eligible to play his first game for the Leafs on Nov. 6th in Ottawa.
Maple Leafs’ player rep Matt Stajan and GM John Ferguson have both expressed optimism that Bell will be cleared for active duty before the club begins its regular schedule, Oct. 3rd, at home to the Senators.
Bettman had these comments when issuing the suspension: “Playing in the NHL is a privilege and with that privilege comes a corresponding responsibility for exemplary conduct off the ice as well as on it. However, over the past year, Mark has made extraordinary strides in rehabilitation. This positive progress was a material factor in reducing what could have been a lengthier suspension. The NHL supports Mark’s committment to learning from his past mistakes and his efforts to move his life forward in a positive manner.”
On a personal note, I have met Bell a couple of times at the Leafs’ informal pre-training camp sessions; I’m impressed with his courage to face the public and discuss his off-ice issues. Other athletes may have ducked the media, suggesting they could not speak on a subject being handled by the courts. Instead, Bell stood before a phalanx of cameras, microphones and notepads and spoke remorsefully about his mistake while vying to resume what looked like a darned good NHL career two seasons ago, when he scored 25 goals for Chicago. First impressions aren’t always accurate, but I have a good feeling about this guy. He seems genuinely prepared to correct his off-ice behavior, knowing that his hockey career depends on it. And, he’s an extremely affable person to chat with, as I found out when Bell and I talked for a few moments this week in the parking lot at Lakeshore Arena.
Toskala is clearly the key figure in the Leafs’ trade with the Sharks, but Bell could be a real bonus, given the Leafs had no choice but to take his $2million contract from San Jose. Comeback Player Of The Year? Way too early to tell, but Mark leaves the impression that would be a reasonable objective.
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