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No Suspension for Steve Downie's Sucker Punch on Jason Blake
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by ryan | January 7, 2008 at 10:38 am
1465 views | 12 Recommendations | 8 comments
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UPDATE: 08.01.07 - TSN reported today that the NHL did fine Downie for the punch.
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Steve Downie was suspended earlier this year for 20 games. 4 games after his return he's at it again. There is no place for this in the NHL and the fact that he will not be reprimanded is embarrassing. If fighting is to have a place in hockey it must adhere to a level of sportsmanship which prevents it from devolving into a goon show.
Check out the video here.
Philadelphia Flyers' forward Steve Downie will not be suspended for sucker-punching Toronto's Jason Blake on Saturday.Sources say NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell spoke with the Philadephia Flyers forward Monday.
Playing in just his fourth NHL game since serving a 20-game suspension for a pre-season hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond, Downie punched Blake in the face while the Leafs' winger was being held by an official.
The punch left a large welt under Blake's left eye but there was no structural damage. Blake was kept off the ice as a precaution on Sunday and received treatment for the injury.
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ryan
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 11:13 on January 7th, 2008
This guy is a train wreck... eventually this will come to a head and someone will get even more seriously injured, likely Downie himself. He's young and he's obviously not getting any kind of guidance... people talk a lot about the lack of respect in the league right now and you would think that it would start in the dressing room. But when you see the runs that Derrian Hatcher is taking at players (he's the captain, by the way) you wonder if Downie is getting it at all. Jason Blake is the smallest guy on the ice, Downie wears a visor (man I hate to concur with Don Cherry) all of that would have added up to a good reminder sent out by the players themselves. Can you imagine anyone sticking their thumb in Gretzky's eye or Joe Sakic? (not that I'm equating Blake with either of them) it just wouldn't have happened, and it would have been down to the players to make sure that was clear. I have a feeling that clarity might come to Downie, just probably not from his own dressing room.
at 22:58 on January 7th, 2008
First, I would just like to say that Darian Hatcher is NOT the captain of the Flyers, Jason Smith is. Second, Darian Hatcher doesn't run at people, he knocks them on their ass because thats his job as a big defenceman. Third, I would just like to comment that as a guy that played hockey for 16 years, it is hard to understand what is like in the heat of the moment. I'm sure Downie didn't just punch him because Blake's arms were tied up. Emotions fly when things like this happen. I am surprised that he didn't get suspended, but there wasn't any reason really. The ref did not do his job to tie up Downie. You also say that Blake is a small guy. Downie is not much bigger. Oh, and one more thing, you are not a whining Leaf fan by any chance are you??
at 11:50 on January 8th, 2008
Hmmm.. Hatcher is wearing the 'c' while Smith is out with a calf injury. Joffrey Lupul is out with a spinal bruise and concussion because Hatcher "knocked him on his ass" (unlucky, and part of the game, but it sure looked like a run - considering it put Hatcher way out of position). Downie does outweigh Blake by 15 pounds which at 195 vs 180 is a quite a bit... I guess it's more the "skilled player" unwritten rule that has dissappeared. Don't get me wrong I like Steve Downie's edge, he was great for Canada at the World Jr's, but he's crossed the line too many times. I played hockey for longer than that, but never really had the urge to stick my thumb in somebody's eye.
Oh, and for the record... I am no Leaf fan, the opposite in fact (I hope the leafs never fire J.Ferguson jr. - he's doing just fine) I would just rather see Darcy Tucker with a shiner.
at 23:05 on January 9th, 2008
Good enough, you have proven your point well. I am a Flyers fan and I'm not liking the way they are breaking the rules this year. They are doing well this year and I feel that they are getting alot of bad press due to the many mistakes they are making. I would almost have to say that Hatcher is too slow to run at anyone but I'm sure he tries from time to time, its his only defensive tactic. I definitely agree with you about Downie in the Jr's and I think he can do it in the NHL as well if he gets his head put on straight by a tough guy. The "skilled player" rule has definitely disappeared, but I can't say I'm upset about that. They all need to get hit like the rest of them. I guess maybe I had some dirty tactics in my day being as small as I am it was my only defence..........
And it is great to hear you are not a leaf fan! My respect has grown for you already! Thanks for the reply.
at 23:05 on January 9th, 2008
Good enough, you have proven your point well. I am a Flyers fan and I'm not liking the way they are breaking the rules this year. They are doing well this year and I feel that they are getting alot of bad press due to the many mistakes they are making. I would almost have to say that Hatcher is too slow to run at anyone but I'm sure he tries from time to time, its his only defensive tactic. I definitely agree with you about Downie in the Jr's and I think he can do it in the NHL as well if he gets his head put on straight by a tough guy. The "skilled player" rule has definitely disappeared, but I can't say I'm upset about that. They all need to get hit like the rest of them. I guess maybe I had some dirty tactics in my day being as small as I am it was my only defence..........
And it is great to hear you are not a leaf fan! My respect has grown for you already! Thanks for the reply.
at 11:15 on January 7th, 2008
ryan nadel, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:30 on January 7th, 2008
Ryan:
I was going to make a wise crack, "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out"
This is embarrasing to see a Flyer act this way. Whatever happened to sportsmanship?
This guy needs to be suspended and the NHL needs to set guidelines that players can't crossover. A strike to the face, should be one of them.
Al
at 17:18 on March 15th, 2009
ok. i agree that downie has been in a fair share of controversies, but i also have to say that i find downie to be one of my favories probably because of this. fights and revenge is what comes with hockey. it's just the way it is. i don't like the way that people make downie seem like he only is out to hurt the other players. i have seen him get hit plenty of times and he takes it. but whenever he does something to someone, he always seems to be standing alone. for example, the hit by laraque on downie. he plowed right into downie when his head was down. i thought downie was doomed. it looked like his head snapped right off. i lot of people compare this hit to downie's hit on mcammond but i don't think it's the same thing. im not being biased, but i think laraque's was worse. im also not saying downies hit on mcammond is acceptable. it was a very hard hit but not worth a 20-25 (not positive) game suspension.
i also dont get this whole thing with blake. theyre both small guys but i agree that the officials didnt do their part in tying up downie like they did with blake.
finally, i think the worst call of all is his 20 game suspension for "purposely slashing an official." when i read about that, i definately believed it, so i checked it out. i couldnt believe what i saw. maybe he was trying to slash the other players stick during the faceoff but it definately didnt look like he purposely tried to injure the official. see for yourself but i think the 20 game suspension is totally overboard. maybe he deserved a penalty or at most, suspended for the rest of the game. i think even a couple games (no more than 5) could fly but 20?? really??
thats all i have to say for now but i hope downies back soon!