Belak's Swing is Costly

[VodkaFish]

Belak's Swing is Costly
by Troy Shockley (AvsFan)

This is Troy's first article for us and we look forward to more from him.

He also writes for the Abilene Reporter News. He wrote this on the Bertuzzi incident: Of cheap shots and plain fighting

[Thrillhouse]

Great article. And I REALLY liked the Bertuzzi article; send your resume to ESPN please.

Belak will get suspended and will be fortunate if he misses only a week. I still have one problem with this whole thing. There seems to be a consensus that there was no intent, but it was a reckless play, which I agree with. But what about all those other reckless plays that caused serious injuries but league review wasn't even thought about. Both Nolan and Tucker were struck with high sticks and were forced to miss an extended amount of time. Also, there was Roenick who was turned into an extra from a horror flick. All these "vicious" high sticks had no intent, but were reckless nonetheless. I'm sure most of us have figured out that the league basis punishment on severity of injury; Bertuzzi and McSorley on one extreme and Havlat and Havlat again on the other. So, I'm not saying the guilty parties above should have been suspended, but if they find what Belak did an accident, I have a hard time finding reason for suspension.

So it would only make sense that Belak receive punishment lasting up to at least the regular season, or less than what deliberate cross-checks to the face and kicks obtained.

[AvsFanatic]

After watching this incident several times, I don't think that there was intent to injure. But he was extremely reckless and not in control of his stick. He was off balance therefore I give him the benefit that he wasn't trying to decapatate. I don't get to see Wade play very much anymore so I'd have to go on past play on this one. Is this a regular accurance? Is he a dirty player? Does he normally slash players like he is William Wallace in BraveHeart? I can't answer these. Bottom line is Wade and Osi are lucky there was a helmet and visor involved. Should he get suspended? I say yes 2 games. Why? because you can't swing your stick around like Paul Bunyun.

[VodkaFish]

I think it was interesting that Nolan's high stick on Barnaby wasn't brought up more in the articles I read. I thought that would get a bit more attention because of Belak swinging his stick as well, even though it was two separate instances.

[MCK RIZZO]

I've seen that clip a few times now and each time I see it, it seems clear there was no intent. However, I wouldn't be surprised with any suspension they give him. With the timing of this, so soon after the Bertuzzi thing, the NHL needs to come out and say they won't accept things like this.

It seems like there are more and more high sticking calls every year. Seems like players have no control over their sticks, they're literally flying all over the place. Personally I think more high sticks deserve suspension/ fines and refs need to call more penalties with all the stick work going on. It's a little ridiculous how much people hack each other up out there now.

By the way, good articles!

[Panache888]

Belak will definitely get suspended for this because of his reputation as a tough gritty player, combined with the timing of the incident with Bertuzzi. I'm actually interested to know what everyone thinks would have happened if this was Brian Leetch instead of Wade Belak. Do you guys think we'd be talking about this right now?

[VodkaFish]

Yes, we'd be talking about this no matter who it was. It was a nasty high two-hander, intentional or not, no one gets away with that.

[AvsFan]

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Not sure I am up to ESPN or SI level just yet, but I'll keep working on it.
I also don't think it was intentional, but it really would have done some damage without a visor. I played hockey (minus a visor) and got caught in much the same way, straight in the mouth. Without a mouthpiece, I would have been spitting teeth. As it was, my lips were thrashed and I had a headache for days. Lucky it wasn't my eyes.
High sticking has got to be the most uncalled penalty, and unfortuanately, as much as they want to talk about cracking down on it, they don't seem to be able to get a good handle on it.

[mcpunchingbag]

I think the refs should be able to use video review on some high sticking calls. there was an incident last week where brashear got 4 minutes for high sticking and it turned out someones stick from the other team hit his own player....just a thought...what do you think????

[AvsFan]

Originally Posted by mcpunchingbag

I think the refs should be able to use video review on some high sticking calls. there was an incident last week where brashear got 4 minutes for high sticking and it turned out someones stick from the other team hit his own player....just a thought...what do you think????

its a fuzzy line....its a fast game, and too much replay slows things down. The only way for it to work is to use the method the NFL uses, where the coaches get a set amount for the game and are penalized if they lose the challenge.

[Thrillhouse]

The best way to have high sticks properly called is to let the linesmen call them again. And I doubt it would have the same negative effects as the 2-ref system does. Someone gets hit in the face, call the play, there shouldn't be any discrepancy. If 4 people can't see it, than no system will work.

[AvsFan]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

The best way to have high sticks properly called is to let the linesmen call them again. And I doubt it would have the same negative effects as the 2-ref system does. Someone gets hit in the face, call the play, there shouldn't be any discrepancy. If 4 people can't see it, than no system will work.

You are a genius!
Ok, so maybe that is obvious to everyone but the league, but still ... nice point. They always make a show at the start of the season at calling everything and then some, but about 3 weeks in, it starts to taper off, and then by the All-Star break, we are back to same old same old with people getting chopped and slashed and no penalty called.
(Notice the amount of interference penalties in the opening month vs. the amount called this month. Sure bet it is a drastic difference)