Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard has been suspended by the NHL for two games for his high sticking infraction on Matt Calvert. According to Michael Russo, Bouchards agent Allen Walsh refered to the disciplinary hearings ad nothing more than kangaroo courts.
NEW YORK -- Minnesota Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard has been suspended, without pay, for two games for a high-stick to the face of Columbus forward Matt Calvert during NHL Game #16 on October 8, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.I have to agree with Bouchard’s agent Allen Walsh, anyone who follows the NHL knows that Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard plays a finesse brand of hockey and is not a dirty hockey player, if anything he is one of cleaner hockey players in the NHL. I don’t think we would see Bouchard intentionally try to swing his stick at an opponent and try to injure them. Also, if you watch the video it appears that Calvert stick knocks Bouchard's stick into Calvert's face, I think this was a brutal call by Brendan Shanahan.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Bouchard will forfeit $44,108.10. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
At 18:54 of the second period, Bouchard hit Calvert in the face with his stick, injuring the Columbus player in the process. Bouchard was assessed a double-minor penalty for high sticking.
Bouchard will miss games Oct. 10 at NY Islanders and Oct. 11 at Ottawa. He will be eligible to return Oct. 13 vs. Edmonton.
