Even in this picture, frozen in time, Cooke’s positioning does not look good. I know everything happens in a second but I contend he intended to cause some discomfort to Karlsson, even in a second.
Matt Cooke skate-gate has become the most contentious on-ice issue since Chara-Pacioretty, Steckel-Crosby and one of Cooke’s previous cheap shots, his hit on Marc Savard. These were hits that produced significant injuries that were borderline in terms of being clean albeit with a major and a game misconduct for Zdeno Chara for his hit helping Max Pacioretty’s head into the stanchion at the Bell Centre. None of these four hits produced a suspension or a fine; all four produced a ton of dialogue in print, social media, electronic and the airwaves. As will the next hit because they’ll never stop coming.
Hockey fans are a special breed of people. Reason being as soon as you invest any time or resources into your team or your favourite players there’s a level of understanding that the nature of the game lends itself to inherent risks the majority of which we are fine with and accept because with the checks, pun intended, are the balances. Problem is for the most severe of these incidents, the four aforementioned and a dozen others, the balances, payback if you will, has been muted.
Some would argue why even discuss payback? Isn’t that commentary reserved for the goon shows representing a much more violent time in NHL history? Therein lies the difference in viewing and commenting on the game of hockey today compared to era’s gone by. The overwhelming majority of hockey fans want a physical response if/when their stars are run or hurt. It’s expected and frankly it’s demanded. 23 of the 30 NHL teams are currently running at 99% seating capacity and ratings for national and regional broadcasts are setting record numbers. For the minority who sadly continue to push their anti-fighting agenda, typically some media types and zealots this must be troubling as not only are the viewing and attendance numbers up, the increases are coinciding nicely with an increase in fighting majors. So how does this apply to these egregious acts such as Cooke on Karlsson which are passed off as ‘part of the game?’ Simple, to move ahead with a safer on-ice product the NHL needs to reach back to an earlier era and it’s this paradox that will see the NHL continue to produce a steady stream of stars heading to the infirmary.
There is no way to prove intent on what Matt Cooke did to Erik Karlsson absolutely no way. But despite the forensic tests done by Aaron Ward and company on TSN I do not accept this was just a hockey play. It’s my belief that Matt Cooke knew full well who he was taking into the boards and because of this he had intentions of causing harm if possible. I believe it was his intention to drive Karlsson has hard as he physically could without it being a hit from behind and it was due to this that the left leg came up for leverage. If Karlsson had been turned even a degree it might have been a charley-horse as opposed to a cut Achilles, either way this was a total reckless unnecessary hit by a man who has made a career out of it. The NHL chose to do nothing. I fully realize and accept their hands were pretty much tied. I mean if Grabovski didn’t bite Pacioretty there was no way in hell this was going to be seen as anything untoward. I get all that, no problem. But if that’s what you want me to accept as a fan then accept what I want as a fan on the back end, retribution. I don’t care what anybody says, if you feel that this was 100% clean and 100% accidental, I don’t care. You ran the best player, you hurt him, badly. Back in the day there was a price to pay for those hits especially any that caused injury. Had that been Lafleur or Gretzky, two stars who didn’t fight, if they were touched in a violent manner you paid a physical price as did your teammates because they inevitably were drawn into the fray. Read below for some historical context on stars being run.
The Cooke’s of the world, Clutterbuck, Torres, take your pick, we have spawned a generation of them, they did not exist back in the day. They were dealt with swiftly and admonished in many cases even by their own teammates. The NHL has to now wait and see how the landscape unfolds for the Ottawa-Pittsburgh rematch a couple of months from now although with Ottawa’s roster this will likely follow the Cooke-Savard-Thornton-Cooke scenario and that’s if you can get Cooke to agree to fight. He picks his spots for that as he does his spots when to maim and injure. The more rules or sanctions you put in to hinder fighting in hockey, the ridiculous instigator rule or the wish of some in the media and in the blog-sphere for game misconducts to follow a fight, the more reckless the behavior will become on the ice. The more injuries and the more stars you will see on the IR. You can have your cake and yes you can eat it but be prepared to eat head shots, bites, kicks, hits from behind and the ongoing litany of gutless players making a living in a game where you once needed courage to put a sweater on.
-30-
INSTIGATOR RULE AND HOW STARS WERE PROTECTED BACK IN THE DAY
The instigator rule in hockey has actually been on the books since 1976. My research indicates it was first called against Dave Hutchison, a particularly truculent player in the 70’s and early 80’s who played over 700 games of pro hockey and had somewhere in the neighbourhood of 120 fights. The difference with the application of the rule circa 1976 was the definition; you had to ‘clearly’ be the instigator in the fight. This grey area allowed the officials to rarely call it and frankly it was no deterrent at all to fighting. Its reapplication if you will, in 1992 was much different. Pick the starter, any starter, just who had the gloves off first and that person was assessed a game misconduct. Three years later the rule was altered due to massive backlash from hockey people, executives, managers, coaches and players. Instead of a game misconduct the instigator was given a minor plus a misconduct to go along with his five minute major. Two years after that it was adjusted again to assess a further two minute minor if you start a fight and you are wearing a visor. The removal of this entire rule would change the landscape of the game but not in the way the anti-fighting zealots fear.
I know hockey fans hear this all the time; Wayne Gretzky was rarely hit or run because of Dave Semenko and later Marty McSorley. Guy Lafleur and Mike Bossy were afforded the same protection. Here’s how incidents were dealt with circa early 1980’s. The Flyers Dave Hoyda took a huge run at the Islanders Mike Bossy. Clark Gillies took exception. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrKzi99J-Tk Dave Hoyda never ran Mike Bossy again. As a hockey fan, I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Bobby Orr on the ice after his nose was broken due to a slash from Brian Conacher. Bruin players are ready to come over the boards en masse. They were not waiting for the TSN explanation that perhaps this was ‘a hockey play.’
On November 5, 1967 Brian Conacher of the Toronto Maple Leafs was in a tough game against Boston. When Bobby Orr went to hit him Conacher slashed Orr and broke his nose. All hell broke loose. It would have probably been left to the players on the ice to settle it but this was Orr, he was hurt and bleeding so the Bruin bench emptied and they spent the next fifteen minutes hammering away at Conacher. Conacher was in four separate fights in this brawl including the last one where he really took a pounding from Ken Hodge. He never fought again in the NHL. Brian’s a great guy, I’ve met him, he was on the last Leaf team to win the Cup in 1967, he’s the son of legendary Charlie Conacher and he worked the booth with Foster Hewitt during the iconic Summit Series but as he told me one night at a function we both attended,’ I hit Orr and I was swarmed. You took your life in your hands if you hit Orr.’
The two really old school references about star players being run happened in 1929 and 1950 respectively. On November 23rd, 1929 the Montreal Maroons, arguably the toughest team in hockey, ever, set out on a mission in a regular season game against the Boston Bruins and that mission was to make sure Eddie Shore did not finish the game. It was a mandate, it was clear, it was reported as such by the media covering the game in the papers the next day and as a result Shore was in five separate fights with George Boucher, Dave Trottier, Hooley Smith, Red Dutton and Babe Siebert. This was hockey’s version of murder’s row only it was for fistic prowess more than scoring. There was so much blood on the ice in the third period they had to stop the game and scrape it off. The Maroons were successful. They ended up sending Shore to hospital but he took two of them with him. Trottier was admitted for a collapsed lung, Siebert for multiple cuts and lacerations. Shore’s chart read broken nose, four lost teeth, two black eyes, gashed cheekbone, multiple facial cuts and a concussion. Boston won the game 4-3; Shore had two assists before being forced out. Shore missed one game. When he returned for the next home game in Boston the owner of the Bruins, Charles Adams, presented him with a cheque for 500 dollars, keep in mind this was in 1929. The money was said to be 100$ for each facial scar he received from the Maroons. This is regarded as one of the most violent nights in NHL history.
Gordie Howe lies unconscious on March 28, 1950 at the Detroit Olympia. The next game his Red Wing teammates sought retribution on Ted Kennedy. They didn’t wait for the TSN reenactment. #joke
On March 28, 1950 the Detroit Red Wings were playing game one of the semi-finals against Toronto. They were bitter rivals with the Leafs coming out on the top end of most the altercations and all of the important games on the score board for several years. They had game one well in hand, up 4-0 late when Ted Kennedy, a HOF player raced into the Detroit end pursued by Wing defenseman Jack Stewart. Also in pursuit was Gordie Howe. Howe had already fought in the game with Bill Juzda. Two years earlier Juzda had ended Toe Blake’s career with a hit, badly breaking his leg. Blake never played again. Howe came at Kennedy from the side. There is no video and what happened next is the 1950’s version of Cooke-Karlsson. Either Howe missed Kennedy and flew head first into the boards, badly cutting himself or as the Wings suggest, he was butt ended by Kennedy which knocked him off balance forcing him to fall into the boards. Either way the blood on the ice was minor compared to the head injury. Howe was rushed to hospital where an operation was needed to relieve the pressure on his brain. As a result he was left with a steady blinking condition for the rest of his life and although he did not play again that playoff year the rest of his story in hockey is well documented. What many of you may not know is how Detroit chose to handle this the next game, keep in mind this was a playoff series they were now down 1-0 in and facing the prospect of losing game two on home ice, going back to Toronto down 2-0. Here’s how it was reported in one of the papers of the day.
“It started in the second period when Lee Fogolin sent Kennedy rolling with a stick trip. As play halted and Referee Butch Keeling thumbed Fogolin to the penalty box, Ted Lindsay rushed up and cross-checked Kennedy back to the ice. Gus Mortson flew at Lindsay and fights broke out all over the rink. About 20 feet out from the Detroit goal, Jim Thomson fell and Leo Reise bludgeoned him across the head and shoulders with his stick. The Toronto defenseman was momentarily defenseless as Reise, apparently not satisfied, slashed away. By this time Kennedy was on the other side of the rink and Reise moved over to get in some more stick work, this time across Kennedy’s shoulders.
Lindsay returned and rushed at Kennedy, his stick held high: then Abel came on flailing with his fists. A fan grabbed Kennedy and held his arms as other Wings struck the Leaf captain. Toronto Goalie Turk Broda, handicapped by 35 pounds of leg pads, trundled over to assist his teammate. Abel and Lindsay persisted in their efforts at mayhem.
When the fighting finally subsided the penalties were sorted out, the ice was cleared of debris and the game resumed, with Detroit the ultimate victor. The Wings trooped happily into their dressing room with Lindsay marching proudly at their head shouting for all the world to hear: “We won for Gordie!”
The Wings went onto win the series and the Stanley Cup. It should be noted that Howe never accused Kennedy of anything deliberate but the perception of what may have happened was enough for his teammates to do what they felt was right, circa 1950. Matt Cooke would not have lasted one game in 1929, 1950 or 1980 and there are many, many fans, myself included who would like to see the players be able to police themselves like they used to. In the meantime enjoy the game circa 2013 with Marc Savard done and totally preventable injuries to stars like Hossa, Crosby and Karlsson a regular part of your nightly sportscast and TSN reenactments.
12 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
K.Kealey
February 16, 2013 at 3:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
How try. Loved the article….now if we could only get you on tsn round table,,,,
Liam Maguire
February 17, 2013 at 2:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks brother…
always appreciate the comments.
Liam
Scott
February 16, 2013 at 5:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Bringing some excellent points here. N.H.L. tries to please too many media groups.
Liam Maguire
February 17, 2013 at 2:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That’s an interesting take Scott, for sure. Certainly in it’s most barbaric of times generations ago and even up to and including the 70′s, much of what went on at individual NHL games was out of site out of mind. Obviously that’s not the case now….Anyway, this is the topic du jour to say the least…until the next one, unfortunately.
Liam
Scott
February 19, 2013 at 9:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You need to keep bringing it Liam, its too easy for people to take the easy road out. Sticking facts in their faces doesn’t allow that! Bring it!
Liam Maguire
February 19, 2013 at 11:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I always do my friend.
Thank you Scott.
Neil Hyland
February 17, 2013 at 10:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Well said Liam. Too many liberties are being taken against the stars in this league and we the fans are the losers. It’s a joke that the NHL decided not to take any action against Cooke for his reckless and obvious attempt to injure Erik Karlsson. We can expect to see more stars targeted.
Liam Maguire
February 17, 2013 at 2:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Absolutely Neil…The league can’t have it both ways. If plays like that are allowed and in my view, it was reckless, without even a second glance by the league then they have to deal with the consequences of what his teammates or others may do. In Ottawa’s case, not a laden lineup of enforcers to say the least but the old adage, you live by the sword, you die by it, more often than not rings true. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Liam
Paul Busch
February 17, 2013 at 1:56 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
For someone who promotes themself as “memorizing, reading and researching even the smallest hockey trivia detail”, you have conveniently ignored historical facts to make your point.
With regards to the central issue of your post, I believe, as does the vast majority of the hockey world, that Karlsson being cut by Cooke’s skate was an accident. I find it difficult to agree with your statement, “Accept what I want as a fan on the back end, retribution” because of the consequences that could arise. A professional league cannot allow acts of revenge without losing control of the game. Let me correct that, a professional league should not allow acts of revenge. Unfortunately the NHL continues to allow players to police the game. Angry and emotionally charged athletes going after other players without regard for the rules or respect for each other is how we end up a Bertuzzi-Moore incident. Any slip in self-control during the act of retribution that you crave and we will have another.
You make the statement that a specific type of player has been spawned recently and that “they did not exist back in the day. They were dealt with swiftly and admonished in many cases even by their own teammates.” What about Bobby Clarke, a skilled player who was also an artist with the slash and the spear, carving up opponents and then hiding behind Dave Schulz, Bob Kelly and Moose Dupont. I don’t remember any of Clarke’s teammates suggesting that he lay off the stick work.
What about Ulf Samuelsson? Referred to by Bernie Nicholls as the dirtiest player of his era. Boston fans still feel that Samuelsson was responsible for shortening Cam Neely’s career through a knee-on-knee hit. Revenge and retribution didn’t stop Samuelsson from running the star players throughout the 80′s.
What about Dale Hunter? Commonly described as aggravating, late-hitting and a cheap shot artist. Stars were safe from him right? Except for Pierre Turgeon who was attacked by Hunter from behind while celebrating a goal, suffering a dislocated shoulder and a concussion.
Did you forget about Ken “The Rat” Linesman? Or Steve “Mental Case” Durbano. You also conveniently don’t mention Dave Schultz who loved to hit from behind or Wayne Cashman, a master with the stick. What about Dave Brown? He was famous for a two handed baseball-type swing at the face of Tomas Sandstrom of the Rangers. Other recognized dirty players include; Eddie Shore, Bryan Watson, Gary Rissling, Willi Plett, Dennis Polonich, Claude Lemieux and countless others. Throughout the 70′s and 80′s you can find other “agitators” who played half a season and racked up 100+ penalty minutes.
You mention the instigator rule but don’t provide any context about why it was implemented in the first place. The rule was brought in primarily to keep the goons from attacking the stars and trying to take them off the ice for 5 minutes. It was also meant to eliminate the revenge on players after a clean but hard hockey hit. Take it out and all of today’s stars are once again at risk. For more on what the game was like prior to ’91-’92, read this post – http://itsnotpartofthegame.blogspot.ca/2012/05/magical-time-before-instigator-rule.html. Even Brian Burke, a lover of truculence, had this to say when asked about removing the contentious rule, “We’re stuck with the instigator rule. We take the instigator rule out and we’re back to three and four hour games. Nobody wants that.”
You then go on to list several examples of how the stars were “protected” back in the day. Your historical reference all include a star being attacked and bloodied and perhaps lying unconscious on the ice. Your descriptions of the violent revenge that took place are very vivid and any professional league would be proud to have that as part of their history. I don’t doubt that you could come up with thousands of references where the star players were attacked followed by teammate’s successfully taking revenge. And that’s the problem. The stars are not protected. The goons are not afraid of revenge and the cheap shots have never been avoided.
It was appropriate that you ended your post with a Mike Bossy reference. A hall of fame player who ended his career early from back problems that he attributed to the physical toll he endured during your “glory years”. He was an outspoken critic of violence and fighting in the game when he played and continues to give that opinion today.
Liam Maguire
February 17, 2013 at 2:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
hey Paul,
thanks as always for responding. Historical knowledge has nothing to do with the injury. I don’t comment directly on the skate cutting Karlsson, I comment on the malicious intent by Cooke, IMO, as he takes Karlsson into the boards. On that point the majority do not favour it as an accident. If anything it appears to be very divided. Regardless, that’s a moot point so right out of the gate, your comment is in error.
Bertuzzi-Moore happened because of the instigator rule. Had their not been one, Moore gets filled in immediately, which he should have been for his high head hit on Naslund. Ironically when he did choose to fight, it was Cooke that he fought…how ironic…anyway, that fight did little to stem the hatred of his act leading to the further retribution. Had there been no instigator rule none of that would have happened.
Bobby Clarke never ran anybody from behind, never slew footed anybody and never ended anybody’s career. He was a noted stick man, no question and he ran with that with relative impunity for 3-4 years. That came to a crashing halt in September of 75 when Montreal said enough and they took care of Clarke and the rest of the bullies one last time in a pre season game when Scotty Bowman loaded up his arsenal and in that contest played in Philadelphia, Referee Bruce Hood called the game with four minutes to play as there were no players left and there had been over 400 minutes in penalties. All of the Flyers including Clarke were in that brawl. So were Larry Robinson and surprisingly even Guy Lafleur fought that night. He asked to play, they all had enough of Philly and that’s how it was answered in those days Paul…I know you can’t conceptualize that given your disdain for even a dirty look much less a punch but fortunately, you are in the minority..still.
Re Ulf Samulesson, he didn’t run many star players in the 80′s…most of his gutless brand of hockey was reserved for the 90′s after the instigator rule was brought in. This rule protected him more than any other player of that era, in my opinion. The game on March 27, 1993, ( this is my historical memory at work again Paul ) when he turtled against Cam Neely and Neely was tossed for the instigator perfectly illustrates the ridiculousness of the rule and why it was changed just a couple of years later so that the player was not kicked out of the game. I’ll give him some credit…he took some huge losses, Rick Tocchet, Dale Hunter, Chris Nilan who avenged the Mondou high stick and then you’d see him run a pretty clean game for a period of time but after the instigator came out, the gutlessness of his career really flourished. As much as I hated him you certainly can’t take away the effectiveness of his play on those two Penguin Cup winning teams.
Yes, stars were safe from Hunter, absolutely. It was not his MO to target them. He paid a very hefty price for his hit on Turgeon. It remains one of the longest suspensions in NHL history and it was the right call. All those games Quebec vs Montreal, he did not go after Lafleur, he did not go after Naslund. Difference with Hunter and say a Matt Cooke, Hunter was accountable. He’d gladly fight you, cheap shot perceived or real. Huge difference, at least in terms of how I reference retribution. He talked the talk, walked the walk and skated and played the game the same way. Again, he took some huge losses in fights but he answered the bell every time unlike Cooke.
As is the case with any historical look back, it’s not my intention to paint everybody with the same brush. Some of the names you mention were famous for being dirty. Claude Lemieux..Dennis Polonich??? hardly..that’s a joke. Eddie Shore? One famous incident no question, tough as nails, well documented..Dirty, no…again, you’re wrong. Any and all cheap shot artists in every era prior to the instigator rule had their ‘Waterloo.’ I think you’re misunderstanding the difference between cheap shot and dirty…Its’ a fine line but the bottom line of this fine line, is what or where is the accountability? Either the league has to do it aka Hunter’s 21 game suspension or the players will do it themselves of which there are 100′s of examples, I only quoted a couple of the more famous ones.
The instigator rule was brought in to appease Roy McMurtry and company for their fervor over the antics of the Flyers primarily. It was a very weak attempt to quell the vocal minority, it had little or no bearing on the game, thankfully. The 3-4 hour games of the 70′s and 80′s were due to bench clearing brawls primarily. Not games that featured any more fights than what we saw between Vancouver and Anaheim just the other night.
The stars are not protected today in my opinion due to the instigator rule..it’s how I see it. You see it different. We’ll have to agree to disagree. Re Bossy, yes, his career was cut short as were countless others for injuries due to the physical nature of hockey. It’s a tough sport, you should try playing it sometime, you might have a different perspective. Either way thank you for your always misguided opinions. Drop a line anytime…
Liam
Scott
February 19, 2013 at 10:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Well, I don’t think there’s a point left out, on both sides of the argument. Congrats to both on your passion for this great game. When I see that passion, and I’m not directly involved, I look for a quick way out.
Lets not pretend though that 3-4 hour games were anything but the result of bench-clearing and line-brawls.
What I don’t get, is why the N.H.L. won’t TRY eliminating the instigator. There is definitely enough evidence to give it a whirl. There’s no loser in “trying”. We ALL know the definition of insanity, in that “just keep doing what your doing” quote.
Liam Maguire
February 19, 2013 at 11:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My final comment on Cooke-Karlsson, unless people want to continue the dialogue cause I’m up for that but otherwise Scott, it’s one of two ways. To me, Cooke went in with bad intentions, I give him absolutely no benefit of the doubt. He went into hurt. Did he intend to do what he did, highly unlikely, either way, no way to prove it but it’s my contention this was not just a ‘hockey play.’ So, the NHL had a chance to at least review it and they do nothing…Unreal…as I wrote, if that’s what you give me as a fan then accept what I want as a fan that you are not giving me. Some sort of punishment, retribution, pay back. Absolutely no way, no way in hell anybody runs Lafleur or Gretzky like this or certainly hurts then this bad. Gary Suter smoked Wayne in a Canada Cup…next regular season game against LA after the 1991 Canada Cup he was jumped, repeatedly as he should have been. That’s the code. It’s like Gordie Howe said to Stan Mikita in Mikita’s rookie year; Stan had run Gordie, viciously, cut him bad and dropped him..Ted Lindsay had been traded to Chicago because he had tried to start the players union. All that tried to start it were eventually traded. Anyway, in the room he warned Mikita to keep his head up, Gordie would be coming. Mikita said,’ ah come on, the old man? He’s not gonna do anything.’ But when Stan went out for the third period he got a little leery and he kept a very close eye on Gordie..nothing happened. Nothing happened in either of the next two games they played against each other. Then came the third game. Last thing Stan remembers after he woke up on the training table was that there had been a whistle for an off side. He asked the trainer what happened. Trainer said Gordie was turning into Stan when the whistle went., In one smooth quick move he slipped his glove off and cold cocked Stan right on the jaw dropping him, put the glove back on and not one official saw it. Stan shook off the cobwebs, as was the norm then and went back on the ice. He skated up to Howe at a faceoff and said,’ I guess we’re even.’ Howe turned his stick up side down and said,’ I’ll let you know when we’re even…Stanley.’ He always called Mikita, Stanley….Mikita thought about fighting him then decided against it. He played the next number of games on pins and needles and then finally Howe told him at another game, a stoppage in play, ‘Stanley, don’t ever cheap shot me again or I’ll finish your career. Play me hard, hit me, check me but if you ever cheap shot me again I will finish you in this league.’ And Mikita thought for a second and said,’ okay.’ heh, heh…Stan told me that story at a Team Canada 72 Alumni event in 2002. I still love that story. Anyway Scott, as I posted on that blog, the video of Mike Bossy getting run, after Gillies beat the shit out of Hoyda he said the same thing, don’t touch Bossy again or I’ll finish you…and he never touched him again…the way stars are run, I mean look at the game tonight, Hossa smoked again…it’s one of two ways, either set up some sort of parameters to at least caution, fine, review and suspend the cheap shots -or-allow the players to do it themselves. The irony, we’d have a much cleaner league and there would actually be less fighting…in my opinion….I don’t think we’ll ever see the instigator out but I also don’t think we’ll ever see a game misconduct follow fights on a regular basis…Not in our life time in my opinion, thankfully….thanks for your comments Scott.