Hockey

[shadows]

Speaking of ugly...this is an example of a dirty hit. The article is from tsn.ca.

CORMIER EJECTED FROM QMJHL GAME AFTER HEAD SHOT ON OPPONENT

Team Canada's world junior captain Patrice Cormier was ejected from a QMJHL game in overtime on Sunday when he delivered a head shot to Quebec Remparts defenceman Mikael Tam.

Cormier, a forward for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, came off the bench for a line change and cut through the faceoff circle at centre ice, laying an elbow on Tam in open ice.

Video of the hit can be found here.

Following the hit, Tam was convulsing on the ice before being taken off on a stretcher. The 18-year-old defenceman suffered trauma to the skull and brain and lost many teeth.

He is now in stable condition in hospital and is expected to be released Tuesday morning. A Remparts spokespesron said a brain scan was taken after the game, and a second scan Monday showed "everything normal."

The Remparts' official team website says fans can send "get well" messages to Tam.

On Monday, TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie took to his Twitter account, writing, "This Cormier elbow is sickening on so many levels. I have never been so discouraged about the game of hockey as now."

Cormier, a native of Cap-Pele, New Brunswick, was traded to the Huskies on January 7th. The 19-year-old was playing in just his third game with the team.

The Quebec Provincial Police are now handling the incident and have collected several testimonies.

The QMJHL released a statement on Monday saying that the incident is under review.

Commissioner Gilles Courteau says he won't be commenting on the situation today, but the statement said that once the disciplinary process has been completed, the Disciplinary Prefect, Raymond Bolduc, will announce the sanctions.

In 31 games this season with the Rimouski Oceanic and the Huskies, Cormier has 11 goals and 20 assists, as well as 64 PIM.

He had two goals and three assists at the World Junior Hockey Championship, where he captained Team Canada to a silver medal.

In a pre-tournament exhibition game, Cormier elbowed Sweden's Anton Rodin and bloodied his nose.
Canada went on to lose to the United States in the final.

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He deserves to get the book thrown at him. He was the Captain of Team Canada at the World Juniors and he threw a freaking elbow there as well. Disgusting. I am sure you'll agree if you see the video.

[shadows]

Link to the video didn't seem to work in my previous post. It can be found here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAoFY...layer_embedded

It happens about a minute in. Just a warning, it is pretty graphic!

It is also in french.

[ila]

Originally Posted by shadows

Link to the video didn't seem to work in my previous post. It can be found here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAoFY...layer_embedded

It happens about a minute in. Just a warning, it is pretty graphic!

It is also in french.

Thanks for the link, shadows. That hit was gruesome. I hope the league and the law come down heavily on Cormier. There was no need for what he did. One of the sad aspects to this is that they were playing good hockey up to that point.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by ila

Thanks for the link, shadows. That hit was gruesome. I hope the league and the law come down heavily on Cormier. There was no need for what he did. One of the sad aspects to this is that they were playing good hockey up to that point.

That was pretty scary, eh? That poor kid was convulsing and you didn't know what was going to happen. I am now going to post the newest article about this.

[shadows]

This is the latest article about the dirty elbow hit from Patrice Cormier on Mikael Tam. Again, it's from tsn.ca.

TAM OUT OF HOSPITAL AFTER TAKING CORMIER HEAD SHOT

QUEBEC -- Mikael Tam flew home to Quebec City on Tuesday but it remains uncertain how long the Quebec Remparts defenceman will be out of action after a nasty hit to the head from Rouyn-Noranda Huskies centre Patrice Cormier.

Remparts spokesman Nicole Bouchard said Tam is walking normally and appears to be clear-headed, even though he has no memory of the elbow to the face from Cormier that floored him during Quebec's overtime win in Rouyn-Noranda on Sunday afternoon.

She said the team is holding off showing him video of the incident for the moment, although it was being shown frequently on several television channels. Tam is to be examined by the team's doctor and a specialist to determine the extent of his injuries, which included brain trauma and damage to several teeth.

It is too early to guess how long he will be off skates, she said. The team plans to hold a news conference with Tam and the medical team on Friday in Quebec City.

The hit has been widely criticized as a cheap shot around the hockey world, including among NHL players, and even drew a reaction from Quebec premier Jean Charest in the National Assembly.

"There are messages that perhaps have not got through that need to be sent again," said Charest. "Hockey can be played without resorting to that kind of behaviour. It's shocking."

Cormier, who served as captain of Canada's team at the world junior championship, has been suspended indefinitely by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and is awaiting word on further discipline. A league spokesman said a decision is expected Thursday or Friday.

The league denied a report that its decision may be delayed because commissioner Gilles Courteau is attending the Top Prospects game in Windsor, Ont.

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 18-year-old went into convulsions before he was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher and taken to hospital, where he underwent two brain scans before he was released on Monday night.

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.

At the Montreal Canadiens training facility in Brossard, Que., enforcer Georges Laraque called it one of the worst hits he's seen in hockey.

"But one thing I can say about Gilles Courteau is that he's always been good about giving suspensions and it doesn't matter the name on the back (of the player's jersey)," said Laraque. "I'm pretty sure he'll be fair with that suspension.

"I'd be surprised if that kid (Cormier) played another game this year. When you look at kids that young, they're not even in the NHL yet and they have their whole future ahead of them and they're shaking on the ice like that. That's pretty scary. It's important to send a message to the youth coming up."

In Vancouver, Canucks forward Tanner Glass called it "one of the ugliest hits I've ever seen.

"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."

His teammate Ryan Johnson said the hit was "completely uncalled for.

"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."

A statement posted Monday night on the Huskies website said the team wished Tam a quick recovery and return to the ice. It said Cormier was pained by the incident and was following news of Tam's recovery closely. However, it said both Cormier and the team's coach and general manager Andre Tourigny would not comment on the matter.


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Regarding the last paragraph of the article...I imagine that the "pain" that Cormier is feeling about the incident(as they call it, I call it a gutless play) is NOTHING compared to the pain that Mikael Tam is in. He could have had permanent brain damage for sake! Cormier needs to be gone for the rest of the entire season AND playoffs...and even longer if need be!

It would be bad enough if this was the first time he's thrown an elbow like that, but it wasn't! He is a repeat offender who obviously has NO respect for his fellow players(teammates or not).

[ila]

Originally Posted by shadows

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Regarding the last paragraph of the article...I imagine that the "pain" that Cormier is feeling about the incident(as they call it, I call it a gutless play) is NOTHING compared to the pain that Mikael Tam is in. He could have had permanent brain damage for sake! Cormier needs to be gone for the rest of the entire season AND playoffs...and even longer if need be!

It would be bad enough if this was the first time he's thrown an elbow like that, but it wasn't! He is a repeat offender who obviously has NO respect for his fellow players(teammates or not).

I agree with your assessment about the pain Cormier is feeling. I hope he is out for the rest of the season and maybe longer.

It's possible that Tam may not be able to play professional hockey or possibly even any hockey again. We'll never know what his potential was. I do hope Tam makes a full recovery.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by ila

I agree with your assessment about the pain Cormier is feeling. I hope he is out for the rest of the season and maybe longer.

It's possible that Tam may not be able to play professional hockey or possibly even any hockey again. We'll never know what his potential was. I do hope Tam makes a full recovery.

I'll post any new articles when they are posted on TSN.

[dauls]

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 bullsht. 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.

[shadows]

Well said, dauls.

[shadows]

Here comes another big one! I'm going to try and make these more frequently to prevent crazy ones like this in the future.

Here are the scores from Jan 19th's games:

1. The Rangers crushed Tampa Bay 8-2. Can this be true? The Rangers scoring more than 2 goals? Marion Gaborik had 4 assists in this game. He must have known that his punching bag debut was coming so he wanted to get some points while he could still see the puck.

2. Philadelphia beat Columbus 5-3. While Columbus is not a great team to say the least, a win is a good thing for Philly. It seems like everything is falling into place for them now, which is a good thing.

3. Washington beat Detroit 3-2. I read an article today that said that Detroit is near the bottom of the league with goals scored. Considering all the firepower they had last year it was a shock to read that!

4. Atlanta beat Toronto 4-3. I am really getting sick and tired of this song and dance. Win one game, lose one game, win one game, lose one game! Damn it! Can you PLEASE win more than one freaking game in a row?!?!

5. Ottawa beat Chicago 4-1. Ottawa is playing very well right now, while the Blackhawks are stumbling around a little. It seems that since the 6-5 shootout loss to Minnesota a while back(where Chicago originally had a 5-1 lead!) they have been a totally different team than what they were earlier in the season. I am sure they will turn it around but they need to hurry up! Vancouver is hungrily eyeing their spot.

6. Pittsburgh beat the Islanders 6-4. This was an amazing game for Pittsburgh's offense! Malkin had a hat-trick and Crosby had 2 goals and 4 assists! 6 points! That's a pretty good night! This was the game that helped Crosby get back into the points-leader race.

7. Anaheim beat Buffalo 5-4. Anaheim had a 4-0 lead after the first period, and they almost blew it! If they hadn't scored that 5th goal in the third, they probably would have lost. Anaheim is playing quite well right now, and they could be a force to be reckoned with if they make the playoffs.

8. San Jose beat LA 5-1. I would have thought with the two teams involved to have a closer game. However, once San Jose had a 3-0 lead, it would be quite a hill for LA to climb up. LA had outshot San Jose 37-24, but it did them no good.

All games ended in regulation this night. A rarity to say the least.

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Here are the scores from Jan 20th's games:

1. New Jersey beat Florida 2-0. Not a hard game for Brodeur this night, as they only allowed 22 shots to get to him. Their offense has been a little weak the past little while, and they are relying entirely too much on Brodeur to bail them out. Elias is needed, and they are probably hoping he will be back soon.

2. St. Louis beat Montreal 4-3 in overtime(so much for two nights in a row where all the games end in regulation). Montreal came back from being down 3-1, so they were able to at least get a point out of it. They also outshot St. Louis 38-28, so that is another good sign. I wish the Leafs could at least start getting points, then we could all be happy.

3. Vancouver beat Edmonton 3-2 in overtime. Edmonton just keeps finding ways to lose. As bad as the Leafs are, at least they are not this bad. Yikes! Henrik Sedin had 3 assists and Daniel Sedin had 1 goal and 2 assists. They are an excellent duo on the ice. They have helped Burrows to have an excellent year as well.

I don't want to run out of room again, so I will continue this in my next post.