Quote:
Originally Posted by shadows
In overtime of Quebec's 3-2 shootout win in Rouyn-Noranda on Sunday afternoon, Cormier crossed the ice to drop Tam with an elbow while the Quebec rearguard was skating through the neutral zone.
The Remparts filed a complaint and Quebec provincial police in Rouyn-Noranda are investigating whether there are grounds for criminal charges against the 19-year-old Cormier.
Cormier was drafted in the second round in 2008 by the New Jersey Devils and it seems that if he makes it to the NHL one day, he'll have a name players remember.
"It was premeditated. He had the elbow up good and early. It's disappointing to see a kid that's trying to play a gritty game, to be a tough player to play against, take liberties like that because it always comes back to haunt you."
"Whether the kid gets up and plays the rest of the game or goes down and convulses, for me, it's not about the result, it's the act."
|
If you hadn't posted this I would've probably missed the whole story.
Three seconds on the ice before trying to knock an opponent's head off, is about as premeditated as you can get. If a similar assault took place with witnesses on the street you'd expect
jail time. That's what he deserves, why should the laws of the land cease to exist once you hit the ice.
Jail time and a very long suspension (why not a lifetime suspension?) should make all hockey players (young and NHL) think about the full consequences of their actions.
As a victim of a serious head injury that stopped me playing rugby, would've stopped me playing hockey and kept me out of football for a few years, I hope the damage to Mikael Tam's brain isn't serious enough to stop him playing.
At least he has no memory of the incident, (same goes for me, I have no memory of the assault that fractured my skull, and can't remember about 3 hours before the incident and maybe 15 more after it).
However, Tam will eventually get to see it on TV, and I'm sure when he watches it, he won't see the victim on the screen as being himself, it will look like it happened to someone else. If he did remember the incident it would be a lot tougher to watch the clip.
As for Cormier being "pained by the incident and was following news of Tam's recovery closely", what bullsh
t. He's only hoping Tam recovers fully because he might get away with a softer punishment.
If Tam does make a full recovery that shouldn't lessen the punishment, the act of violence should be punished, he's just lucky Tam isn't in an induced coma.
He deserves to be a marked man if he ever makes it to the NHL. And if he plays with the Devils I won't be cheering him.