Rene Bourque Suspended Two Games for Check on Brent Seabrook
 

NEW YORK - Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque has been suspended, without pay, for two games for checking Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook from behind during NHL Game #479 in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 18, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Bourque will forfeit $36,036.04. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 15:25 of the first period. A major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct was assessed on the play.

Bourque will miss games Dec. 20 vs. Minnesota and Dec. 22 vs. Detroit. He will be eligible to return Dec. 23 at Vancouver.

But Lucic, being a Bruin, is not a repeat offender - right?

Why are there so many hits from behind this year?

I know, you watch both videos it doesn't really make much sense when you compare the two with his breakdown.. But I don't think either should be a suspension though.

...the NHL's merging with Women's Hockey next year,.........as long as the girls promise not to play too rough,.......

My assumption is that players know it's an easy penalty to draw these days with the new, stricter rules, and they are facing the boards more often, not every instance but most. I have seen more guys this season turn and face the boards when they know they are about to be hit more than I ever have in my 20 plus years of being a hockey fan.

This suspension I don't have a problem with. Seabrook's back was to Bourque the entire time that Bourque was approaching to make the hit. This didn't look like a case of Seabrook changing positions and putting himself in a vulnerable spot. Bouque finished him hard when he had the numbers staring him in the face for a long time. Not a smart hit, and if they're cracking down on hits from behind I think a 2-3 game suspension fits a first-time offender for this particular type of check. But this one doesn't do anything to alleviate the frustration over other inconsistencies in handing out suspensions already this season.

I'm a flames fan and a Bourque fan, but we're told forever in almost every contact sport "don't hit someone in the numbers", so it was a stupid hit to make.

How many posts were made here about the ticky tacky suspensions that were handed out by BS in the pre season for hitting from behind?

We all commented on the pros and cons of trying to protect players and thought that was a good idea. Also, the league seemed to be going to an extreme in calling the fouls, then handing out severe suspensions for those hits. We questioned if this would carry over to the regular season. It has.

Enforcement in the regular season should come as no surprise to anyone.

I watched the game and thought that Bourque would hold up, as Seabrook was on the boards, in front of him and the ref was right behind Seabrook. He made the hit.

Bourque did not seem the type to make this kind of hit. The two games are justifiable. I would feel the same way if the situation was reversed and Seabrook was the one suspended.