NHL Decision On Bertuzzi Coming Thursday

[Yoda]

NEW YORK -- The NHL says a decision on Todd Bertuzzi's status has not been reached.

The league plans to announce Thursday any sanctions against the Vancouver All-Star forward for his punch that left Colorado's Steve Moore hospitalized with a broken neck.

Bertuzzi attended an hour-long hearing at the NHL office in Toronto Wednesday afternoon. At present, he's suspended indefinitely.

The league's vice president and disciplinarian, Colin Campbell, will decide what happens to Bertuzzi.

B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating the punch.

Moore will miss the rest of the NHL season with a fractured neck.

Bertuzzi punched Moore in the head from behind, then jumped on his back and drove him face-first into the ice, knocking him unconscious. Moore, who scored a goal earlier in the game, laid motionless in a puddle of blood before being carted off on a stretcher.

The Avalanche said Moore also sustained a concussion and deep facial cuts, and he'll remain hospitalized in Vancouver indefinitely.

Police in Vancouver are investigating the incident.

Bertuzzi received a match penalty for his actions, which comes with an automatic review by the NHL.

"It was disgusting," Avalanche defenseman Derek Morris said. "I haven't seen anything like that in my seven years of playing hockey. This was premeditated, this was the worst thing I've seen."

A disciplinary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the league's office in Toronto.

In 57 games this season, his first full season with the Avalanche, Moore has five goals and 12 points.

Bertuzzi has 17 goals and 43 assists this season.

This is the second time in recent years Vancouver police have become involved in an on-ice hit at an NHL game. Marty McSorley was charged for hitting then-Vancouver Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick in February 2000.

McSorley received a conditional sentence for assault with a weapon, and his one-year suspension from the NHL ended his 17-year career.

[Yoda]

I say they suspend him until Moore can come back. This isn't the first time this cheap shotter has took someone out for a season. He has took 2 St.Louis blues players out and probly put one of them out for his career.

This is what kills hockey.

Did anyone see his press conference tonight? He cried and only stuck up for himself. All he could really say was he was sorry. But most of the time he was trying to save his own ass.

err stuff like this pisses me off real bad. This poor guy that he hit, his career is probly over or atleast he is gonna be out for a good long time and if Colorado wins the stanley cup he cant be apart of it now.

[Kooperman]

What I want to see is the authorities prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law for, at the least, aggravated assault with the intent to do bodily harm. A case could conceivably be made for attempted murder, although that would be pushing it. But Moore could have very easily been killed in the assault. If the league doesn't suspend the guy for a calender year of league operation they are gutless.

[Yoda]

TORONTO -- Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks was suspended for at least the rest of the regular season and the playoffs by the NHL on Thursday for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore.

Bertuzzi's eligibility for next season will be determined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before the start of training camp.

In addition, the Canucks were fined $250,000.

"We want to make clear that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in the NHL," league vice president Colin Campbell said in a statement.

Bertuzzi sat out Wednesday's tie with Minnesota and will miss the final 12 games of the regular season, forfeiting at least $500,000. The suspension will amount to a minimum of 17 games if the Canucks make the playoffs and are swept in a first-round series.

Vancouver is currently fourth in the Western Conference standings.

Bertuzzi slugged Moore in the side of the head late in Monday night's 9-2 victory by the Avalanche. He hit Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first -- with the 245-pound Bertuzzi on top of him -- and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed on a stretcher.

Moore is out for the season with a broken neck. He also sustained a concussion and deep cuts on his face, and remained hospitalized in Vancouver.

Campbell and fellow NHL vice president Bill Daly scheduled a news conference for later Thursday. Canucks general manager Brian Burke also scheduled a news conference for later in the day.

A tearful Bertuzzi apologized Wednesday night to Moore.

"Steve, I just want to apologize for what happened out there. I had no intention of hurting you. I feel awful for what transpired," Bertuzzi said, reading a statement. They were his first public comments since Monday night, when he punched Moore in the side of the head during the third period of Colorado's victory.

Bertuzzi, who didn't take questions from the assembled media, spoke while standing alongside his wife, Julie, agent Pat Morris and members of the Canucks management staff. He choked up three times during his three-minute address.

Bertuzzi met briefly with teammates before addressing reporters.

"To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly story," Bertuzzi said. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person, and I'm sorry for what happened."

B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Vancouver police are investigating the punch, the second time in four years police have looked into an on-ice hit at an NHL game in the city.

Bertuzzi's punch appeared to be retaliation for an open-ice hit Moore delivered to Canucks captain Markus Naslund last month, knocking him out for three games. Vancouver players vowed to get even with Moore for that hit, which wasn't penalized.

In February 2000, former Boston Bruin Marty McSorley was charged for hitting then-Canuck Donald Brashear with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault with a weapon, but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation.

The league suspended him for a year, ending his 17-year NHL career.

When Moore's condition improves, he'll be transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver and evaluated by neurosurgeons, the Avalanche said.

"Steve knows he has the support of the entire Avalanche family and hockey fans throughout the world," said Pierre Lacroix, Avalanche president and general manager.

Bertuzzi was an All-Star last season when he was fifth in the league in scoring. This year, he was an All-Star again and has 60 points.

:frog: :frog: :frog: :frog: :frog: :frog: :frog: :lmao: :dancin:

[Shawn]

Can anyone point me to a link to the video? I have yet to see it in motion. The pics alone don't really give the same indication of intent.

[Yoda]

hmm I cant find a video on ESPN or the NHL.com Im sure its somewhere.

Just watch a sports channel or your local news, they will show it about 50 times.