Hockey is a physical game, thatโs a given. Lose a tooth, spill a little bloodโit happens. There is, however, a line to be drawn. Blindside hits are one of the most disgraceful things a player can do. It breaks almost every code in the unwritten hockey handbook. Not only is it embarrassing for the player, but itโs embarrassing for the team as well. Not to mention, the loyal fans back home whoโd been with them every step of the way.
As youโve probably heard, Chicago Blackhawks‘ defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson has been suspended for a grand total of two games for the disappointing hit on Sabresโ Jason Pominville the other night. If you didnโt catch the game, or you live under a rock, hereโs a replay of the incident:
Anyone who plays or knows hockey at all understands that you donโt hit the man without the puck. Within moments of the hit, Pominville was down on the ice and was laterย carted out with a nasty concussion and a face laceration. This is unacceptable.
By: Harrini Krishnan
Sabresโ goaltender Ryan Miller sure wasnโt pleased. โYou can’t have a hit like that, it’s dangerous,” Miller spoke out.
“I’m glad he admitted he didn’t mean to do it. But you’ve got to change the culture some time, and I hope the league wakes up and sets a precedent for the yearโฆ Something we need to get away from in hockey right now, is the culture of, ‘I was trying to make a play, therefore it’s not my fault,'” Miller said. “I just think more people should be a little bit more outraged.”
Lucky for Miller, the league has obviously decided that this is the week to lay down the law. Earlier this week, Islandersโ defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended for two days, as well, for making some โobscene gesturesโ towards the dearly loved Sean Avery. Apparently on some level, Wisniewskiโs brief moments of bad judgment is equal to those of Hjalmarsson. Obviously, priorities are in perfect order and the law has been laid. Iโm sure the two-day suspension really has the players shaking in their skates you guys. Well done.
Ironically, though, the next game Hjalmarsson is playing will be against the Sabres. Something tells me the Sabres are going to be taking matters into their own hands. If I were Hjalmarsson, Iโd skate out in chainmail.
