Hitting a ref or linesman, whether you are conscious or semi-conscious, is an absolute NO EXCUSE action
Rule 40.3: Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner... without intent to injure, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.
If he didn't do it on purpose, then it absolutely is all the excuse he needs to not get suspended.
If he didn't do it on purpose, then it absolutely is all the excuse he needs to not get suspended. - phatpat44
He applied physical force on purpose, even if it was for purpose of gettting back to the bench and not having faculties about him enough to figure out his route.
I'm saying if he didn't see him, or didn't realize he was there, then he didn't deliberately apply force - phatpat44
If he didn't see him or realize he was there, why was he trying to cross check the air? He was skating back to his bench with one hand on his stick and, at the last moment, grabbed it with both hands and applied a violent cross check, and skated back to the bench as if nothing happened.
Location: I am serious. And don't call me Shirley! Joined: 08.06.2010
Jan 28 @ 2:14 PM ET
He was skating back to the bench in a woozy state. Suddenly the linesman appears in front of him, and he reflexively put up his hands to protect himself from the impact. His hands were both on the stick at the same time, hence the 'cross-check'.
Additionally, maybe the linesman should be a little more aware of where he is on the ice, especially when in front of the players bench. He didn't notice a large man approaching him out of the corner of his eye?
The contact was clearly not deliberate, it was accidental. And in this instance, those terms are mutually exclusive.
Location: Marchand is a rat fink dweeb.., ME Joined: 02.21.2007
Jan 28 @ 2:14 PM ET
He applied physical force on purpose, even if it was for purpose of gettting back to the bench and not having faculties about him enough to figure out his route. - Paul Stewart
Location: "I got mouths to feed", NY Joined: 08.14.2008
Jan 28 @ 3:32 PM ET
He was skating back to the bench in a woozy state. Suddenly the linesman appears in front of him, and he reflexively put up his hands to protect himself from the impact. His hands were both on the stick at the same time, hence the 'cross-check'.
Additionally, maybe the linesman should be a little more aware of where he is on the ice, especially when in front of the players bench. He didn't notice a large man approaching him out of the corner of his eye?
The contact was clearly not deliberate, it was accidental. And in this instance, those terms are mutually exclusive. - scottak
It clearly WAS delibrate, what are you looking at? This is similar to when people (mostly Islander fans) tried to defend CHRIS Simon when he 2 handed Ryan Hollweg in the face after Hollweg hit Simon into the boards & there was no call. Can't defend this & the accident theory is ridiculous.
He was skating back to the bench in a woozy state. Suddenly the linesman appears in front of him, and he reflexively put up his hands to protect himself from the impact. His hands were both on the stick at the same time, hence the 'cross-check'.
Additionally, maybe the linesman should be a little more aware of where he is on the ice, especially when in front of the players bench. He didn't notice a large man approaching him out of the corner of his eye?
The contact was clearly not deliberate, it was accidental. And in this instance, those terms are mutually exclusive. - scottak
Wow...blaming the linseman for getting cross-checked in the back. That's just...wow.
Location: I am serious. And don't call me Shirley! Joined: 08.06.2010
Jan 28 @ 4:09 PM ET
If the contact was deliberate, the linesman would not have been able to get up. If you cross check an unsuspecting person, in the back, with deliberate intent, the person being cross checked would end up with something broken. Or be badly injured.
If you accidentally run into an unsuspecting person, albeit with a cross check, said person would be stunned, then get up, brush himself off, and go about his business, which is exactly what the linesman did.
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger 5m5 minutes ago
Indefinite suspension for Wideman pending post All Star hearing. - B2B76
I don't know who issued the suspension (league, Officials Union), but I hope this increases the suspensions for player vs. player hits. What is good for the officials should be good for the players themselves.
It clearly WAS delibrate, what are you looking at? This is similar to when people (mostly Islander fans) tried to defend CHRIS Simon when he 2 handed Ryan Hollweg in the face after Hollweg hit Simon into the boards & there was no call. Can't defend this & the accident theory is ridiculous. - B2B76
in defense of myself as an Islanders fan, I had absolutely no sympathy for Simon after that and it was one of the worst things I've seen in hockey
in wideman's case, I don't see how you can give him any less than 10 games and it could easily be 20.
If the contact was deliberate, the linesman would not have been able to get up. If you cross check an unsuspecting person, in the back, with deliberate intent, the person being cross checked would end up with something broken. Or be badly injured.
If you accidentally run into an unsuspecting person, albeit with a cross check, said person would be stunned, then get up, brush himself off, and go about his business, which is exactly what the linesman did. - scottak
If the contact was accidental, you don't extend your arms through the person with the exact same timing as when it's deliberate.
Location: "I got mouths to feed", NY Joined: 08.14.2008
Jan 28 @ 4:41 PM ET
in defense of myself as an Islanders fan, I had absolutely no sympathy for Simon after that and it was one of the worst things I've seen in hockey
in wideman's case, I don't see how you can give him any less than 10 games and it could easily be 20. - Isles_since_6
Simon got off that suspension & what was it less than 10 games later the next yr does the leg stomp to Ruutu? He could have severed his Achilles. Some people went light cause both Hollweg & Ruutu were scumbags but that can't excuse it.
If the contact was deliberate, the linesman would not have been able to get up. If you cross check an unsuspecting person, in the back, with deliberate intent, the person being cross checked would end up with something broken. Or be badly injured.
How is it that all these players getting cross checked keep playing, I wonder? By your logic every cross checking penalty called should also result in an extended stint on the injury list, considering no player is "expecting" to be cross checked every time it happens.
I remember Jaromir Jagr in 1992 getting the 10 game abuse of official penalty. It was absurd then, clearly a situation where the contact with Ron Hoggarth was accidental.
But the penalty was called--i dont remember if it was called on ice or invoked after the fact. Hoggarth didnt return to Pittsburgh to ref until April of that season, and during the skate just prior to the game, I remember a rotating circle of boos that followed Hoggarth around the Civic Arena.
There can be no leniency for intent...if accidental, any punishment should be reviewed and should not rise to the level that Wideman deserves--even if he was momentarily bonkers
Location: "I got mouths to feed", NY Joined: 08.14.2008
Jan 28 @ 4:58 PM ET
I remember Jaromir Jagr in 1992 getting the 10 game abuse of official penalty. It was absurd then, clearly a situation where the contact with Ron Hoggarth was accidental.
But the penalty was called--i dont remember if it was called on ice or invoked after the fact. Hoggarth didnt return to Pittsburgh to ref until April of that season, and during the skate just prior to the game, I remember a rotating circle of boos that followed Hoggarth around the Civic Arena.
There can be no leniency for intent...if accidental, any punishment should be reviewed and should not rise to the level that Wideman deserves--even if he was momentarily bonkers - Amanion
Dan Carcillo was given 10 games, later recinded to 4 & he really did next to nothing. The linesmen was manhandling him shoving him into the box when he was just watching the Prust/Dorsett fight. You can't touch an official.
Simon got off that suspension & what was it less than 10 games later the next yr does the leg stomp to Ruutu? He could have severed his Achilles. Some people went light cause both Hollweg & Ruutu were scumbags but that can't excuse it. - B2B76
simon was an unstable psychopath, he shouldn't have been reinstated after the two hander to the face.
I remember Jaromir Jagr in 1992 getting the 10 game abuse of official penalty. It was absurd then, clearly a situation where the contact with Ron Hoggarth was accidental.
But the penalty was called--i dont remember if it was called on ice or invoked after the fact. Hoggarth didnt return to Pittsburgh to ref until April of that season, and during the skate just prior to the game, I remember a rotating circle of boos that followed Hoggarth around the Civic Arena.
There can be no leniency for intent...if accidental, any punishment should be reviewed and should not rise to the level that Wideman deserves--even if he was momentarily bonkers - Amanion
agreed. has to be at least 10 games. If he says he was concussed then the flames and the NHL are in deep crap for letting him continue to play.
Location: IT'S GRITTIN TIME, CA Joined: 07.14.2007
Jan 28 @ 5:05 PM ET
Wow what a story Paul. Why don't you have sympathy for Wideman then? Since you were in the situation once, why wouldn't you be more understand? That is if you believe he was actually woozy.
Location: "I got mouths to feed", NY Joined: 08.14.2008
Jan 28 @ 5:07 PM ET
agreed. has to be at least 10 games. If he says he was concussed then the flames and the NHL are in deep crap for letting him continue to play. - Isles_since_6
Simon had at least 6 or 7 suspensions in his career.
Simon had at least 6 or 7 suspensions in his career.
Meant to respond to your other post - B2B76
Chris simon wasn’t someone I ever enjoyed seeing on the Isles. I greatly preferred eric cairns, he was just as tough without the mentally unstable aspect simon brought.
