Cox: Will Chara hit still outrage hockey fans in a month?

If you haven't seen this article it's worth a look.

By Damien Cox Sports Columnist --- If you’re the NHL, why change when you know that all it takes to turn today’s outraged consumer into tomorrow’s satisfied fan is seeing his team’s enforcer win a fight?

That said, there is a sense that even hardcore hockey fans have had enough of the head shots and don’t like that Sidney Crosby is sitting out with a concussion so serious that his career may be threatened.

The GMs felt they made a significant move last year, enacting Rule 48 to try and take blindside headshots out of the game. It may have done specifically what it intended (no more Matt Cooke hits on Marc Savard to go unpunished) but hasn’t quieted the overall drumbeat, that hockey has become too dangerous and too destructive, even to its elite players.

So the challenge facing the GMs and the league is to be seen as responding to the problem without doing so in a knee-jerk manner. The GMs are paid not to be fans; they’re there to think carefully and dispassionately about change, looking beyond the needs of just their team and just their players.

Of course, it’s that latter point that always trips up the hockey executives. They always want the other guy suspended, while claiming their players would never intentionally hurt a fly.

So don’t look for big news out of Boca Raton this week. What you can hope for is a few good ideas, and possibly the emergence of a new philosophy, one that puts more emphasis on protecting the rights of victims of hockey violence, as opposed to keeping brutes and cheap-shot artists in the league.

It’s time that the perpetrators of on-ice crimes — not just the victims — are the ones who see their careers come to an end.

But even that may not happen. And then, inevitably, people will forget

Huskies plan to appeal Cormier’s season-long suspension

I really think that the QMJHL isn't going to over rule or shorten their suspension. Cormier is an adult and he should man up and except his punishment, the punishment fits the act in my opinion.

Patrice Cormier will not accept his suspension by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after all.

The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies said Tuesday they will appeal the suspension handed Cormier for his hit to the head of Quebec Remparts defenceman Mikael Tam.

Coach and general manager Andre Tourigny said on a conference call that the suspension for the rest of the season and the playoffs was "excessive."

"He could serve up to 48 games, that's too much," Tourigny added.

Later, Cormier read a short statement to The Canadian Press over the telephone. It said:

"I respect the decision of the QMJHL even if I find it too severe. I deeply regret the circumstances surrounding this event and I wish Mikael Tam a speedy and full recovery. Thanks for your attention."

He declined to answer questions on the decision.

Earlier Tuesday, the Huskies centre had seemed to suggest he had accepted the league's ruling in statement released through his Halifax-based agent Tim Cranston.

"I fully respect the Quebec Major Junior League's decision regarding the Mikael Tam incident," Cormier said in that statement. "I deeply regret the circumstances surrounding this event and wish Mikael Tam a speedy and full recovery." [TSN.COM]

Cormier suspended indefinitely

I think this is the right decision to suspend Cormier indefinately and I hope they throw the book at this guy for his dirty hit on Mikael Tam. I would not be surprised if there will be legal charges against Cormier as well.

MONTREAL -- Junior hockey was making sense of another head-hunting incident Monday after Mikael Tam of the Quebec Remparts was sent to hospital by an elbow from Rouyn-Noranda centre Patrice Cormier, who captained Canada at the recent world junior hockey championship.

Cormier caught Tam with an elbow while skating through the neutral zone during overtime of Quebec's 3-2 shootout win at Dave Keon Arena in Rouyn-Noranda on Sunday afternoon.

The 18-year-old defenceman went into convulsions and was taken to hospital after the hit, where he is listed in stable condition with brain trauma and several damaged teeth.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League gave Cormier an indefinite suspension on Monday and will continue to investigate the incident. No timeline was provided on when league disciplinarian Raymond Bolduc will issue a ruling.

Cormier Elbows Mikael Tam

This is the latest ugly incident to mar the hockey world. Team Canada's world junior captain Patrice Cormier (New Jersey Devils draft pick) was ejected from a QMJHL game in overtime when he delivered a head shot to Quebec Remparts defenseman Mikael Tam. Caution this is video is not pretty folks.

You have to imagine that there will be a hefty suspension coming from the QMJHL.

Ed Jovanovski suspended two games by the NHL.

Coyotes hack Ed Jovanovski was suspended two games for his brutal hit on Wild forward Andrew Ebbett (UMICH). I think the more troublesome fact was none of the Wild challenged Jovanovski after this hit. You can't hit an opposition player in the head. You have to wonder if this would have happened if Derek Boogaard had been in the lineup. Here is a novel idea if you can't hit someone legally don't hit them at all take a number get them back later. Mike Russo is reporting that Ebbett is out with a concussion, this is the fourth player to suffer a concussion for the Wild.

TORONTO -- Phoenix Coyotes' defenseman Ed Jovanovski has been suspended for two games, without pay, for an incident in NHL game #436 against the Minnesota Wild, December 7, the National Hockey League announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Jovanovski will forfeit $67,357.52. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

At 9:34 of the third period, Jovanovski delivered a forearm to the head area of Minnesota's Andrew Ebbett. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Jovanovski will miss Thursday's game at Los Angeles and Dec. 12 against San Jose. He will be eligible to return Dec. 14 at Detroit.

Which one of these coaches is not like the other?

Lets compare and contrast the two coaches. Here is Denver University coach George Gwozdecky response after one of his player viciously slashed UMD Bulldog Mike Connelly. I think I have a lot more respect for this coach.

GG: If you look at the WCHA and the philosophy on that, most of the time, the WCHA will look to the schools to make the decision first. If they agree with the school, it goes along. If they don't, they'll add or change (the suspension).

It was a pretty hard swing with the stick. The action and the intent are two things you have to look at. If you look at what Patrick did immediately after contact was made -- if he was looking at injuring (UMD's Mike Connelly) he would've stood there or went after him. But immediately he sprinted down the ice, knowing only a second or two was left in the game. ... No question his intent, as he said, was to deny Connelly from getting the puck. He went about it the wrong way, but the one thing that was probably in my mind, (the intent was) not worth any further suspension.

CHN: Is it a good idea for the league to leave it up to teams to impose their own discipline?

Here is Don Lucia's response after Brian Schack's Todd Bertuzzi style attack on Channing Boe. Does Lucia suspend Brian "the Hack" Schack? Nope!

“That’s not the way we like to play,” Lucia said, “but in some of our kids’ defense, Brian Schack included — and I’ve said it, at some point, we got to protect our own players, too. Brian did that and that’s to his credit.

“Now I am going to sit down with Brian about what happened on Friday night because I did think he did cross the line a little bit on Friday night. I am going to talk to him about that and show him the video of the play because you don’t want to be in a situation where somebody is vulnerable and they can get hurt.

More on the Schack hit.

Check out what Bruce Ciskie from the Fan House had to say on the Brian Schack incident. I have to say that I agree with this assessment. A six to eight game suspension would be about right in this incident. Todd Bertuzzi missed the rest of the 2004 season and the playoffs for his gutless act. However, I doubt the league will have the balls to make this kind of a decsion.

Schack received a fighting major and game disqualification, meaning
he won't play when the two teams meet at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis tonight.
What happens to him beyond that will be up to Lucia and/or McLeod, and we should
know that sometime next week.I'm not as upset about this as I was the attack on
Steve Kampfer last week.

Schack didn't attack Boe from behind, and Boe knew he had it coming after throwing an illegal hit on a smaller Minnesota player. However, Schack has to be in for at least a six to eight game suspension.

As I said last week, I am reluctant to blame these kinds of attacks on the lack of fighting in college hockey. I don't think allowing players to drop the gloves without risking a game disqualification would necessarily solve much of anything. Players have to figure out, though, that violent, uncontrolled rage is not justified by any kind of hit, whether it be a legal or illegal hit.

Check out Shane Frederick's take on the incident.

Gauthier’s hit on Gorges.

Props to Sean Leahy of Puck Daddy for the video. You can bet the league office will review the video of this hit and hand down some type of sanction. Reviewing the video there is no mystery that Denis Gauthier left his feet to check Gorges and led with his elbow and the league will not tolerate these types of cheap shots.

Slug feast in Mankato (Schack goes Bertuzzi)

This incident is warrants a 5 game suspension; minimum! It is time for the WCHA to man up and punish Brian Schack as he went Todd Bertuzzi on MSU-M Maverick Player Channing Boe. We get it Brian the CFB was a bad play but it didn't warrant your actions. You're now on par with Tropp and Conboy of MSU.

Wouldn't you know it Todd Anderson is the ref in this game as well. Maybe that is the common denominator? This incident tonight is equal to this incident in my opinion. The league needs to relieve Todd Anderson of his reffing duties before someone gets killed out there on the ice.

Is there a spot for Steve Downie?

I found this over on Hockeybuzz.com and it appears that Steve the Hack Downie might not have a place in the Flyer's lineup. It makes a person wonder if his antics are welcome even in Philly?

Today's question: How and where does Steve Downie fit in the Flyer's starting lineup?

It's a question that neither John Stevens nor Paul Holmgren can answer at the moment.

But if the regular season were to start today and the Flyers opened the season with a fully healthy lineup, chances are that the Flyers' 2005 first-round pick would find himself in the same place where he spent much of the stretch drive and the playoffs: as a coach's decision scratch.

The numbers game works against Downie right now. There are four centers (Mike Richards, Daniel Briere, Jeff Carter and Glen Metropolit) and six wingers (Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell, Joffrey Lupul, Mike Knuble, Scottie Upshall and Arron Asham) who are virtual locks to be in the opening night starting lineup.

Rookie Claude Giroux has the inside track to earning a starting spot in the lineup, playing either on the Briere or Carter line (personally, I prefer the latter). He would have to have an exceptionally poor camp to end up on the Phantoms, and I don't see that happening. So now we're up to 11 starting forwards.

Enforcer Riley Cote is likely to continue to dress as the 12th and final starting forward, at least during the regular season.

Guess who that leaves as a scratch, no matter what he does during the preseason: Steve Downie. Barring a trade of another winger before the season (which remains a distinct possibility with the Flyers' cap problems), the only way Downie would start on opening night would be if there's an injury or if someone played himself out of a job in camp.

Sean Avery's day at the office

I found a few interesting stores on Rangers thug/though guy Sean Avery over on The Rangers Report. First off everything in this article makes me ask is this a hockey player or a fashion model want a be? Also, I must add it's like traffic accident you know you shouldn't look but you do anyways.

Until there is more definitive news on Sean Avery’s hockey career—he does still play hockey, doesn’t he?—or unless he lacerates his spleen again, is linked to more call girls, or becomes engaged to one of the Bush sisters, this will be my last Sean Avery post for some time.

But for those of you who can’t get enough Avery, and that would seem to include Sean Avery himself, (check out this video)

What did I learn from the video? It does appear that Sean Avery has recovered from the spleen injury. I also found out that I actually have something in common with Sean Avery; I have the same pair of the Adidas Bounce shoes that Avery does. I might add that after six and a half months they are already starting to fall apart.
Men's Vogue picture
It would appear that Sean Avery is a fashion designer trapped in hockey goon's body. I mean check out this post:

I don't watch sports. I don't read about sports. Generally, other than spending a lot of time in dressing rooms both at home and on the road, I don't hang out with other athletes. Over breakfast in hotels when the Rangers are on the road, I read the Style section in The New York Times. Some people question whether I'm straight; others give me compliments. Some women find it a turn-on. My teammates are very supportive and cool about my interest in fashion — sometimes they even ask for my advice on what to wear. But I'd be lying to you if I said that I don't take some verbal abuse from opposing players for the clothes I wear, or for my interest in something — "fashion" — that I think sounds a little frightening to narrow-minded blockheads. I also realize that this isn't necessarily their fault — they think it's what they're supposed to think.

Earlier this year — just before the playoffs, actually — I wrote to the editor in chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, and expressed my desire to intern for the magazine once my team won the Stanley Cup. After just a couple of days I got the answer I was looking for.

But first, of course, the playoffs: The Rangers had a great first round against the Devils in mid-April. (I caused my usual controversy with what I thought was an innovative technique to distract the Devils' goalie, Martin Brodeur; apparently the NHL thought this was too innovative, and created a new rule to prevent players from blocking or interfering with a goalie — some call it the "Sean Avery Rule" — to make sure it never happens again.) In the second round we played a strong Pittsburgh Penguins team. In the first period of the third game of the series, I lacerated my spleen. I finished the game, but pretty soon internal bleeding and a few other bad things led to a rough week. The Rangers lost the series against the Penguins, and all of a sudden I had some time off. This is where the fun starts.

Marty Brodeur refuses to shake Sean Avery's hand

Kostroun/AP


There has been an on going feud between Rangers Buffoon Sean Avery and future hall of fame goalie Martin Brodeur. It may have started back in Feburary with Avery taking a blatant run at Martin Brodeur and it seems to have only gotten worse with the face guarding incident during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Lets talk about class; Sean Avery although a decent hockey player is a punk and doesn't know when to shut his big mouth and isn't worthy of sniffing Brodeur's dirty jock strap. Martin Brodeur on the other hand is a world class goalie and a future hall of fame goalie that has won multiple Stanley Cups and post season awards. Martin Brodeur is a guy you would build a championship hockey team around. In contrast to Brodeur Sean Avery is a loud mouth punk that holds the media in disdain and is disrespectful to his fellow competitors. Avery is also quickly becoming that guy that no one wants to be associated with.

Marty Brodeur: No shake for Sean Avery
BY KRISTIE ACKERT
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Martin Brodeur didn't shake Sean Avery's hand after the Rangers-Devils series ended.
The bitter feud between Rangers instigator Sean Avery and Devils goalie Martin Brodeur continued to the bitter end of their teams' playoff series. The two skated by each other in the post-series handshake line without shaking hands after the Rangers ousted the Devils, 5-3, at the Rock Friday night.

"I shook everyone's hand, everyone but one," Brodeur said without mentioning Avery by name. "I don't care how he feels about it."

Avery, who forced the NHL to add a rule to deal with his Game 3 faceguarding technique to screen Brodeur, used the handshake slight as a chance to fire another verbal barb at Brodeur.

"Everyone talks about how much class I don't have," said Avery. "I guess he forgot to shake my hand." Avery added: "Of course, I was going to shake his hand."

The feud goes way back. Avery has called Brodeur a whiner and takes verbal and physical shots at him during games every chance he gets. But he scored three goals in the series and had two assists. He also was called for three goalie interference penalties. "It was not an easy series, that's for sure," Brodeur said. "They did a great job of getting to me, getting in front of me and making my life tough out there." "I think to some degree, as the series went on, he looked tired mentally," Devils coach Brent Sutter said of Brodeur.

More Avery.

Check out this comment this is a classic example of what not to say after you win a series.

Meanwhile, members of that ‘talentless lineup’ have at least a championship ring on their fingers. Also, Mr. Avery, calling a three-time Stanley Cup winning goalie in Martin Brodeur, “Fatso” on national television, does not sit well with many of his fans and his peers. Respect off the ice, is something Marty has earned. Calling him ’fatso’ does not garner you the respect that you yearn. Although you deny it, we all know you want it. Who would not?

Kiszla is at it again.

In case you haven't seen it Dener Post's resident moron is at it again. Thanks to Gopherz for posting it.

Goon Veilleux crosses the line
Now that Minnesota has pushed the tone of this NHL playoff series against Colorado from Wild and dangerous to the edge of insanity, what is commissioner Gary Bettman going to do about it before more reckless damage is done to a wonderful sport already dismissed by too many Americans as a bad excuse for a bar brawl?

Well, the commish could start by ordering a suspension for Minnesota winger Stephane Veilleux, who apparently views the NHL's penal code as a chance to write his name in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Should the league take punitive action against Veilleux?

"Definitely," Avs veteran Ian Laperriere said Wednesday, on the eve of Game 5.

Mr. Misconduct needs to be suspended. If the NHL had any sense of justice, Veilleux would be banned from participating tonight against the Avs, with the tense best-of-seven series tied at two victories apiece.

A goon-gone-wild act by Veilleux included a dangerous blindside shot on Avs star Paul Stastny late Tuesday in a 5-1 Colorado victory that saw the Wild overdose on testosterone and embarrass any Minnesotan in the great state of hockey who truly loves the sport.

Although Laperriere respects the unwritten rule of sending a we're-not-going-take-it message in the closing minutes of a lopsided playoff loss, he believes Veilleux definitely crossed the line by leaving his feet to deliver a nasty hit to the back of a defenseless Stastny.

"The league has been talking blows to the head and how we want to get rid of that. (Veilleux) jumped in the air and went right between the numbers," Laperriere said. "There's a fine line between being physical and trying to hurt someone."

Although shaken, Stastny was able to skate away from the cowardly assault by Veilleux in the third period. Should that leave a combatant who was obviously looking to cause mayhem off the hook with the league office?

"In my mind, don't wait for a guy to break his neck to do something about it. But they pay me to play, they don't pay me to hand out suspensions," said Laperriere, no angel himself, with a nose permanently bent in the shape of a 25-mph curve that proves what a tough road he has taken in 14 NHL seasons.

I like who Kiszla keeps coming back with quotes from Ian Laperriere. Just for the record Ian Laperriere is a gutless hack and a goon that has spent the series against the Wild running the skilled players of the Minnesota Wild and is nothing more than a toothless goon. Former North Stars coach and current Wild scout Glen Sonmor was right when he wondered why somebody on the Wild didn't go after the Avalanche's Cody McLeod and Ian Laperriere and ring their necks.

The Veilleux checking from behind on Av's player Paul Stasny was a questionable hit and you could call it dirty, however, the action did not warrant anything more than a 5 minute penatly in my opinon. Just for the record Veilleux is not a goon and is a good hockey player and also a decent defensive forward.

Stephane Veilleux vs Ian Laperriere

It would be an understatement if I told you last nights game was an ugly game. The Minnesota Wild were down 3-0 to the Av's before the first period was over. From that point on the game took a turn for the worse as the Wild started a parade to the penalty box. Not all is lost as the Wild accomplished their goal by splitting in Colorado.

I give Stephane Veilleux a lot of credit for stepping in and fighting Av's thug Ian Laperriere. Face it Laperriere is a hack, he skates all over the ice taking runs at the skilled players of the Wild but he wants nothing to do with the Wild tough guys Derick Boogaard, Aaron Voros or Todd Fedoruk.

That being said the Wild need to beat the Av's on the score board and pick their spots to get their pay back against the Av's, no stupid selfish penalties.

This is pretty accurate photo of Peter Forsberg.

Here is the play everyone is talking about.

I saw this last night on Versus and this is one of the oddest things that I have ever saw. It is no doubt that Avery is trying to get in Martin Brodeur's head and it appeared that it worked on this play as Sean Avery scored a goal.

Last night over on CBC Ron McClain (who is a ice hockey official) said that he could give Avery a penalty for poor sportsmanship and according to the rules may and should be penalized. Below is the NHL rule that could cover this conduct.

NHL Rule 41.G
A misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who persists in any course of conduct (including threatening or abusive language or gestures or similar actions) designed to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty.

If, after the assessment of a misconduct penalty, a player persists in any course of conduct for which he was previously assessed a misconduct penalty, he shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.

Alexandre Burrows is a hack.

After watching the Wild and the Canucks play the past 7-8 games I must say that Alexandre Burrows has to be one of the biggest hacks in the NHL, right next to Steve Downie and should have been suspended for his latest act of thuggery. Seriously folk, the spear is one of the most gutless/cheap acts in all of hockey and there is no room in hockey for this type of crap or these type of players that run around delivering cheap shots at people and hiding behind a face shield, all under the guise of being "an agitator."

I predict that one day Alexandre Burrows is going to get what is coming to him. This is the same guy that Brian Rolston got into a fight with only the second of his NHL career.

The NHL latest thugs of the week.

Here are the latest acts of thuggery in the NHL. Repeat offender Chris Pronger will miss 8 games (the rest of the Ducks regular season games) for his skate stomp on Ryan Kesler's leg. Seems this act earned another repeat offender 30 games, I wonder why the disparity?

Pens tough guy Georges Laraque earns three days on the beach for his vicious elbow on Buffalo Sabres player Nathan Paetsch.

Here is some perspective.

It was no doubt the hit on Leo was questionable and a dirty hit. There isn't room in any league for bush league hits to the head like that. The thing that puzzles me the most is that this thug is a going to lose 12,824.21 for missing 3 games. For most of us that is two and a half to three months salary. It is hard to phantom making that kind of money to beat people up in a hockey game.

Stars' Ott Suspended Three Games
TORONTO - Dallas Stars' forward Steve Ott has been suspended for three games, without pay, as a result of delivering a hit to the head of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jordan Leopold during NHL game #1043 on March 9, the National Hockey League announced today.

The incident occurred at 12:31 of the first period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Ott will forfeit $12,834.21. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Ott will miss Thursday’s game at Detroit, March 15 against Vancouver and March 19 against Anaheim. He will be eligible to return March 22 against Los Angeles

Sean Avery is all class.

Here is the latest antics by Sean Avery, talking about throwing a temper tantrum, literally.

One of the flying water bottles that was tossed by Avery ended up hitting a wall and splashing a young fan. Apparently the kids father was less than please with Sean. I guess we can't have Avery as a role model for young children.

Color me surprised; I thought it was only UND that did these things?

To take a page from our favorite Western College hockey blogger color me surprised. This can't be. Seems things got a little rough between the Badgers and the Huskies this past weekend.

Hey; I thought it was only the Sioux got involved in these things? From what I read, it sounds like there was a lot of after the whistle stuff this past weeekend. What is the common denominator now? Red uniforms? The Badgers? According to the SCSU coach Bob Motzko his team is a bunch of saints and never gets involved in stuff like this. Heck his boys don't even know what to do in these types of situations. Here is a thought; how about the common denominator that it is a league game and things get heated.

Roe and the Huskies better be ready to be hit next weekend

I am telling you right now that UND is going to check Roe and the skilled Huskies up and down the ice next weekend. The Fighting Sioux are going to hit Roe hard every chance they get the Huskies can bank on it. That is hockey and that the way the Sioux play.

SCSU hockey: Winless no more
By Kevin Allenspach

Garrett Roe has a talent, something every bit as valuable as his abundant ability to score goals and set up others.

Those aptitudes alone are enough to make you want him on your side. He has another forte, though, that merely makes you glad you don’t have to play against him. Just ask the Wisconsin Badgers.

Roe can agitate, and the way he affected St. Cloud State’s 3-2 victory on Saturday at the National Hockey Center was right out of his stylebook.

Trailing by a goal, Roe drew a penalty late in the second period that resulted in a 5-on-3 power play for St. Cloud State.

Roe subsequently hammered a shot off the shoulder of goalie Shane Connelly to tie it, and Matt Hartman netted the winner 36 seconds later during the man advantage Roe created.

“If I play without and edge out there, you wouldn’t notice me afterward, you wouldn’t notice me on the forecheck, the backcheck, in the D-zone, on faceoffs, and you wouldn’t notice any points, either,” said Roe

Roe goaded the Badgers into two first-period penalties and then gave them the opportunity to go ahead with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own.

(Read the rest of the article here)

More Garrett Roe

"I think I said we played a 'nice' game then, too," Motzko said. "That's the way it was again. They bring out the nice in us, I guess."

Except for Garrett Roe, who took exception to John Mitchell's hit at the SCSU blue line late in the second.

Roe, who thought he was kneed, got up and stalked Mitchell, eventually catching him with a hit from behind into the boards in front of the Badgers' bench.

Exit Roe for a major penalty and the closest the Huskies came thereafter was John Swanson's 20-foot shot that clanked the left post and the crossbar before bouncing out in the final minute.

The tumult and the shouting

Saturday's 3-2 victory was in the books, the Huskies had dispatched their 14-game winless streak against Wisconsin, and yet the Badgers wanted some more. Blake Geoffrion precipitated a scrum that involved many players from both benches just as they were emptying for the post series handshake. Both coaches came on the ice and started pitching their players out of danger, and referee Derek Shepherd wisely preempted the tradition and sent each team directly to their dressing rooms. Not before Matt Stephenson will remember Senior Night for the couple of good whacks he got in on Geoffrion, though.

"I looked over and I saw (Matt Hartman) on his back and Geoffrion was taking liberties," said Stephenson, who got a double-minor with Geoffrion. "I just came over to make sure it didn't get out of hand. First, they went after (Nate Dey) and that started the whole brouhaha. I looked over and I saw Geoffrion swinging. I went over and put my stick on him to let him know I was there and he turned around and punched me right in the stomach. One thing led to another and I was on top of him. I haven't been in one of those since juniors, and my last line brawl I was on the bottom."

Huskies coach Bob Motzko waded into the fray, afraid he would lose personnel for next weekend's series at North Dakota.

"Our guys never get into that, they don't know what to do," Motzko said. "I had to get out there and remind them we've got two more games to play."