Hey, Steve Downie! What were you thinking? Sit for 20!

by Cityhockeyfever
Cup Crazy's NHL blog and ArmchairGM writer

I know, I am backtracking eight days to an incident that the National Hockey League did not need. But it is worth bringing up as the brand-new season is set to begin.

Having already dealt with what happened on March 8th when Chris Simon clocked New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg with baseball-like swing of his stick and was given a 25-game suspension for it, what unfolded on September 25th can easily be said punishment was needed.

During a preseason game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators from Scotiabank Place that night, Flyers forward Steve Downie laid out one of the most vicious hits ever applied onto another in the field of battle. This tilt between these two Eastern Conference rivals didn't have any meaning other than fringe players doing everything they can to impress the coaching staffs and make their teams.

Three days before then, I saw Downie get into a fight with Rangers forward Hugh Jessiman and he wasn't exactly playing within the "unwritten" rules of conduct... what I mean by that was he was playing on the dirty side. He even scored two goals in the Flyers' 5-0 preseason victory and I already wanted this guy's head pasted against plexiglass.

But early in the second period of Tuesday's game in Ottawa, Downie decided to try to make a name for himself. But it turned out to be for the wrong reasons though. He saw Senators forward Dean McAmmond circling behind the Flyers net from the opposite side and at full speed sent him flying dangerously into the backboards. It resulted in McAmmond's second significant concussion in this calendar year. McAmmond had to leave the game on a stretcher and wouldn't return. Rogers Cable provides the proof in the video clip below.

Then on Friday, the National Hockey League handed down a surprising, but swift 20-game suspension against Downie. Was it enough? Was it too much or too little? It certainly is up for debate, but I can tell you that the NHL did its best to send a message. That would be that they're serious about cracking down on head hunters. If you've seen replays of this incident, keep in mind that Downie left his feet to deliver what is ruled as an illegal hit. If you would like to check out one report in particular that I saw myself, CTV News provided some good coverage of this story following the announcement of Downie's suspension. CBC News' Nancy Wilson and Tom Harrington sat down for a chat last week to discuss the impact of what took place (select the Hockey Night in Canada video clip "CBC News Today: Controversial Hit") and TSN had a full highlight package on the incident as well.

What I didn't understand was that early last week, Simon was allowed to play in what turned out to be a fight-filled pre-season affair against the Rangers, this being in the very same venue where his disgraceful act took place five months earlier. He ended up getting into a fight with Hollweg in this game as well. Oh, the irony here. Simon still has to finish up his 25-game suspension during this month.

There is no doubt that the physical part of the game of hockey must never be reduced or taken out of it. It is like National Football League players only being allowed to play flag football. But there has to be a precedence set that none of this unacceptable conduct in games such as what Simon did and what Downie just committed will be tolerated. Perhaps the 20 games will give Downey the time to think about it. Maybe the Flyers feel he'll need more time than that as they immediately sent him down to their American Hockey League affiliate just across the Wachovia Sports Complex. To some observers that may feel that instead of playing dirty, Downie would earn a roster spot with the Flyers the right way. That would be playing his heart out for the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Steel TownDraft Pick

788 days ago

Score 3

there is no comparison between what Downie did and what Simon did. A twenty game suspension is rediculous. The penalty was for leaving his feet when making the hit. The reason the hit was so gruesome is because McAmmond wasn't watching where he was going, he was think goal all the way. I forget which Senator faced the same wrath as McAmmond last year when Colby Armstrong leveled him. The only difference was that Downie left his feet. But both hits caused the same amount of damage. Perhaps the Sens ought to look into teaching their players to look out for the other team.

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Bberg11Varsity

787 days ago

Score 2

Finally someone agrees with me. They are crucifying this kid for going out there and being aggressive. Was it a clean hit? No. But I have much worse, in terms of intent to injure. There was no intent to injure here. He barely left his feet, he didn't raise his elbow, and it wasn't really a late hit. This is the NHL making an example of a poor kid who is just trying to earn a spot on the team, and judging a penalty based on the image of what happened.

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Falcon02520Legend

788 days ago

Score 5

Hockey needs to be promoted more on this site, so I automatically give you a vote... After reading it... very good article... keep writing...

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Defence5Waterboy

788 days ago

Score 1

Agreed - Hockey seems to be taking a back seat on this site, but Cityhockeyfever is adding some good content.

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CityhockeyfeverVarsity Captain

788 days ago

Score 0

Thanks for the props, guys. Dean McAmmond also suffered a serious concussion late last season from whom I believe was Colby Armstrong. There is a sense of urgency to address this growing problem in the rules committee and look into what punishment should be taken against those that recklessly put others at dangerous risk of permanent injury.

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DonatevoMajor Leaguer

787 days ago

Score 0

This has been going on forever. But good story!

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MAIZE&BLUEJV Squad

787 days ago

Score 2

Cheap hit but McAmmond is more to blame then people think, the guy wouldn't have two serious concussions if he just quit admiring his own passes and kept his head in the game, look at guys Spezza and Heatley, they hardly get get even though they do more dipsy doodling then most and that is because they are smart and don't sniff their own farts. If McAmmond had of just been aware then all Downie would have done was jumped into the boards. Situations that can be avoided if players would stop being vain and admiring their own work, this no way relates to the Simon cross checking because Hollweg could not to anything to stop that. Lesson is to keep yourself safe at all times and that means keeping your head up and knowing who is on the ice, such as guys like Colby Armstrong who look for hits like that.

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JMFlyer1454Draft Pick

787 days ago

Score 2

I definitely think he deserved a suspension for leaving his feet but 20 games is a lot. If you look at the other instances that brought about 20+ games (stick to the head, tripping a linesman on purpose, leaving penalty box to fight, etc) they are more severe. He should have gotten 10 or so. Not 20. I realize McAmmond suffered a concussion but I'm with Steel Town, Bberg, and MAIZE&BLUE on this one.

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Silencer76AAA-er

786 days ago

Score 0

The suspension fit the bill of what happened. McAmmond is likely to miss serious time with this injury. While hockey is a rough and tumble game and injuries are going to happen, some things are over the line.

Furthermore, Downie was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure, which according to the NHL Rulebook:

1. A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts or who deliberately injures an opponent and the circumstances shall be reported to the Commissioner for further action. A substitute for the penalized player shall be permitted at the end of the fifth minute.

A match penalty can be assessed for the following infractions:

1. attempt to injure in any manner* (Rule 43) 2. biting (Rule 41) 3. butt-ending* (Rule 46) 4. cross-checking (Rule 50) 5. deliberate injury in any manner* (Rule 43) 6. hair pulling (Rule 41) 7. head-butting* (Rule 60) 8. high sticking (Rule 61) 9. kicking a player (Rule 69) 10. kneeing (Rule 71) 11. grabbing of the face mask (Rule 41) 12. slashing (Rule 85) 13. slew-footing (Rule 91) 14. spearing* (Rule 86) 15. throwing stick or any object (Rule 88) 16. wearing tape or other material on hands in an altercation* (Rule 56) 17. goalkeeper who uses his blocking glove to the head or face of an opponent* (Rule 84)

(* = match penalty must be assessed when injury results).

1. In addition to the match penalty, the player shall be automatically suspended from further competition until the Commissioner has ruled on the issue.
2. No substitute shall be permitted to take the place of the penalized player until five (5) minutes of actual playing time have elapsed from the time the penalty was imposed.
3. A game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure an Official, Manager, Coach or Trainer in any manner and the circumstances shall be reported to the Commissioner for further action. (See also Rule 76 -- Physical Abuse of Officials.)

(NOTE) The Commissioner, upon preliminary investigation indicating the probable imposition of supplementary disciplinary action, may order the immediate suspension of a player who has incurred a match penalty under this Rule, pending the final determination of such supplementary disciplinary action.

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