Ferraro Suing Gomez, Laraque’s Safety Proposal

Judge Mike Hubbard has stopped testimony on numerous occasions to ask witnesses to explain such things as icing, off-side and penalty killing in the assault causing bodily harm trial of Gomez, 27.

The Crown questioned the 32-year-old referee of the game, Jason Nissen, who said he held Gomez in higher regard as a player than Ferraro, having referred both men numerous times before.

Watt asked Nissen if he felt Gomez was a “difficult” player to handle on the ice, to which Nissen said “no.”

Watt then asked Nissen if he thought Ferraro – who has previously played in the NHL – had an “attitude” and felt as if he was “untouchable” and “above the league”; to which Nissen agreed.

“It would turn into a mockery anyway because I would turn to a guy and say, ‘OK, we can’t fight right now because of the rule, so we’ll do six Mississippis and meet in the corner.’ It’s true, we would make a mockery out of it,” said Laraque.

Laraque said the players also discussed the mixed martial arts tactics that some fighters are bringing into the NHL; he singled out Brad Staubitz of the San Jose Sharks and his fight with Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators where it appeared Staubitz was connecting with his forearm instead of his fist, like MMA fighters.

“That’s an elbowing major, attempt to injure,” said Laraque. “That should be an automatic suspension. We’re totally against it.”