What a complete joke the NHL can be at times. 6 friggen games for that? A sad day for the NHL.
Canucks' Rypien gets 6-game suspension
Last Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010 | 12:46 PM ET
Vancouver Canucks centre Rick Rypien (37) is pulled by linesman Don Henderson toward the Vancouver bench Tuesday night in Minnesota, just before his incident with a fan. (Paul Battaglia/Canadian Press)Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien was suspended six games on Friday for grabbing a fan in Minnesota earlier this week.
Rypien, 26, made contact with the fan during the team's 6-2 loss at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday night. He was suspended immediately pending a hearing.
Rypien was heading to the dressing room after an on-ice skirmish with the Wild's Brad Staubitz.
“Prior to each season, all clubs and players are advised that under no circumstances are club personnel permitted to have physical contact with fans, or enter or attempt to enter the stands,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
“We hold NHL players to a high standard, and there simply is no excuse for conduct of this nature. Fortunately, this incident is not typical of the way NHL players conduct themselves and is not typical of the way Mr. Rypien had conducted himself during his career.”
The Canucks also were fined $25,000 US, mandatory for any team whose player makes contact with a fan.
Rypien, coming off his first full season with the Canucks in 2009-10, will be eligible to return to play Nov. 6 against Detroit.
The fan, identified as James Engquist, told the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune he said to Rypien, "Way to be professional," before the physical contact.
Engquist also said he was seeking legal representation after the incident.
While some hockey observers have bemoaned the lack of a canopy at Xcel between the fans and the aisleway leading to the visitors' dressing room, the Canucks had little to protest with respect to the decision.
“We understand and respect the League’s decision today regarding Rick Rypien," general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement. "While this game is played with passion and intensity, the safety of all of our fans and players is of the utmost importance at all times."
The Canucks and Wild meet again Friday night, this time in Vancouver at Rogers Arena.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stor...#ixzz136jN3wVa
Last Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010 | 12:46 PM ET
Vancouver Canucks centre Rick Rypien (37) is pulled by linesman Don Henderson toward the Vancouver bench Tuesday night in Minnesota, just before his incident with a fan. (Paul Battaglia/Canadian Press)Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien was suspended six games on Friday for grabbing a fan in Minnesota earlier this week.
Rypien, 26, made contact with the fan during the team's 6-2 loss at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday night. He was suspended immediately pending a hearing.
Rypien was heading to the dressing room after an on-ice skirmish with the Wild's Brad Staubitz.
“Prior to each season, all clubs and players are advised that under no circumstances are club personnel permitted to have physical contact with fans, or enter or attempt to enter the stands,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
“We hold NHL players to a high standard, and there simply is no excuse for conduct of this nature. Fortunately, this incident is not typical of the way NHL players conduct themselves and is not typical of the way Mr. Rypien had conducted himself during his career.”
The Canucks also were fined $25,000 US, mandatory for any team whose player makes contact with a fan.
Rypien, coming off his first full season with the Canucks in 2009-10, will be eligible to return to play Nov. 6 against Detroit.
The fan, identified as James Engquist, told the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune he said to Rypien, "Way to be professional," before the physical contact.
Engquist also said he was seeking legal representation after the incident.
While some hockey observers have bemoaned the lack of a canopy at Xcel between the fans and the aisleway leading to the visitors' dressing room, the Canucks had little to protest with respect to the decision.
“We understand and respect the League’s decision today regarding Rick Rypien," general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement. "While this game is played with passion and intensity, the safety of all of our fans and players is of the utmost importance at all times."
The Canucks and Wild meet again Friday night, this time in Vancouver at Rogers Arena.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stor...#ixzz136jN3wVa
