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Could not resist! Must watch!

Just thought I'd share these here. I made some game highlights for games 1,6 and 7 from the 2002 series with Colorado. Unfortunately I don't have any of the other games from that series but I'm sure these are everybody's favorite 3. Each period has its own video. Here's the first part for Game 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W6G6nxQVo8 Game 6: The rest can be found in either the video responses or on my channel. Enjoy!

Why does he need to apologize? And why would Stevie or any GM chew him out? I don't get all the attention this guy is getting hes just being another whinny ******, there is plenty of them to go around.

He're what Jeff Finger posted on his twitter account a few years ago. Can't believe no one besides me noticed it. "LOL! I can't believe those morons are gonna pay me $3.5 million per year"

By far the most nerve wrecking series I've ever watched. We had to win that series to save our respect, after losing to them in 1999 and 2000. Didn't look good after Floppa scored in OT in game 5, but that wound up being the last goal Colorado scored. Game 7 was maybe my favorite game ever to watch as a fan.

Hossa wore #18 in Ottawa, Atlanta & Pittsburgh though. Kind of a difficult topic because Chelios is apparently the best to wear #24, but arguably spent his best years wearing #7 in Chicago.

And I think those two deserve it.

Exactly when was Osgood "out"? He flat got outplayed.

Michael Liambas is quickly becoming one of my favorite non-NHL players.

Two things: It's downright impressive to send 2 dudes to the hospital in one season and Lawmaster is an amazing name for a defenseman.

Wow, tough love here on LGW. The truth is though, as it always is - if this happened to a Wings player, you would all be calling for a year long suspension. Since its not, you guys all fall into the 'tough old time hockey guy mode' and call it a clean hit, and of course it was Fanelli's fault for putting himself in that position. It was CLEARLY boarding, hitting from behind, AND a head shot, not to mention he took about 5 strides from the blue line to make that hit. The kids skull is fractured, broken orbital bone, and a huge facial laceration. The kid may never play again, let alone want to play again. Liambus said himself that he was shaken up by the hit, and he shouldn't have done it. Fanelli's mother and father were in the stands watching the game. Went Fanelli got hit, his mother fainted and had to be revived by paramedics.

I agree, older kids(16+) with a full cage can feel even more invincible out there and start developing bad habits.

You seem to have missed the times I've mentioned that I don't mind a hit like that at the NHL-level. They're all bigger, stronger and smarter. It's still not a legal IMO, but it's part of the game. They know (or at least should know) how to protect themselves. That video you posted has as much to do with my contention as a scene from 'Debbie Does Dallas'. In my view, this stuff is completely unnecessary in a developmental league with 16 year olds skating around. It's a recipe for disaster when you've got these hulking, skill-less 20 year olds floating around with underagers that are still growing and learning the game. If these guys decide to flatten a player who isn't quite cagey enough to protect himself properly, that kid gets flattened. The results were made more unfortunate by the fact his helmet came off on impact but luckily, this is NOT the worst that could've happened. He could be dead right now. Doc, you don't agree. That's fine. But try to absorb what I'm saying here because you're missing my point entirely. I'm aware that hockey's a dangerous sport. It always will be. It's the nature of the game and it's part of what makes it the best sport on Earth. But protecting players, in particular kids, should never be disregarded.

Well he went in there trying to demolish him. Mission accomplished. I'll ask the question again -- who benefitted from it?

Being strong and physical is an addition to a good young players other assets. It can be the reason you are drafted in the first round and not the third. But it's never the reason you are drafted. D#1fan sums up my feelings for this hit. And frankly, if a guy that appreciates the physical side of the game as much as he can says that, for me that's saying a lot. Liambas was not busting his arse. He wasn't finishing his check. He wasn't skating whistle to whistle. He put someone out, probably for life. How is that helping your team? It's sure not helping yourself. Ask Liambas now if he still thinks he should've gone that hard at Fanelli. I'll bet he disagrees with you and wishes he had've let up a little.

No need for it. I still play, and there's no reason to finish a guy that hard, finish your check, but he tried to hurt him. Yes the kid turned, but still the fact remains, kids in the CHL are getting bigger and stronger, and you have to know whats right and wrong, I'm usually not about sportsmanship, but you dont try to hurt a guy, your trying to intimidate and get your team going. It's unfortunate, that kid will likely never play hockey again.

I'm looking at it from strictly the league's POV. They certainly need to make sure their players, particularly the underage ones, are well-protected. Now from a player's POV... I'll tell you one thing with certainty. No NHL club will sign nor draft a junior player for his hitting. If they want to sign a grinder they look for experienced players in the AHL. You don't add grit from the CHL. Finishing your checks is fine, but if you wanna get drafted I suggest you concentrate on your stick-handling, positioning, shooting, face-offs, pokechecking, shot-blocking, stick-lifting, play-reading, skating, passing, conditioning, size, strength, power, vision, poise, teamwork, leadership, etc. This is the s*** junior players should be learning. Anyone can finish a check like that guy just did. Who can poke-check like Nick, dangle like Datsyuk, deflect like Homer, see the ice like Thornton, shoot like AO, protect the puck like Hank, backhand like Sundin, slap it like Chara, win a draw like Perrault, etc... ? An 18 year old that thinks making a hit like that will get him on an NHL scouts shortlist is kidding himself. That's not what the CHL is about. At all.

Thanks for those posts. This is why I didn't like the hit. It's a 16 year old kid. These guys are trying to improve their game and become great hockey players. They don't need to be fighting or laying hits like this. It's the CHL, not the NHL. They can play tough, but not like this. Particularly when there are 16 year olds out there. The size difference between the average male at 20 and the average male at 16 is huge. Dangerously big, and this demonstrates that. Furthermore, these guys are still learning and developing their hockey senses. They will make mistakes like Fanelli made. It's just incredibly sad the price he has to pay is so high. It shouldn't have to happen. If the CHL teaches its players to play tough without crossing the fine line into dirty, as well as encourages respect for your opponent it will translate to a new, better type of grit in the NHL. I'm not saying there is no place for hitting in the game, because there most certainly is. I'm also not saying that the result of this incident was entirely Liambas fault. But the hit was unnecessary. Let the kids play hockey. Let them learn and develop and become the Ovechkin's, Crosby's and Tavares' we love to watch now. Leave the fighting and huge hits for the mature leagues where they're (usually) fully developed and most importantly, know how to protect themselves.

A post from another forum from a fan at the game:

That's just ignorant. I am the biggest pro-toughness person in the world, but a horrible incident as this doesn't require comments such as this. I was at the Lions game in the early 1990s in which Utley broke his neck for the Lions. The eerie silence in the crowd was like nothing I've ever experienced at a sporting event. This kid is a 16 year old with hockey talent that still goes to k-12 school. Saying he got wrecked is disturbing. See, people here think I'm just a pro goon rip 'em up fan. Absolutely not, I'm a hockey purist that believes in the game. Horrible incidents such as this are the equivalent to a trajedy in a Nascar race. They can happen, but saying someone got wrecked is really not needed.

Great point.

So his neck? Is that supposed to be better?

It's arguable whether or not it was his elbow or his shoulder, as the frames go by way too fast for me to be able to tell which, but nonetheless, it was 100% assuredly a high hit. I don't know what the hell Fanelli was doing turning his back like that, but regardless of whether his back was turned or he was facing Liambas, that was still not even remotely close to a body check. He was aiming high the whole way.

So he fully untucked his elbow before the kids helmet made a full rotation in mid air? Don't be afraid to compile.

That wasn't a dirty hit. You DON'T turn your back on another player bearing down on you at the last second. No way you can react when you are inches away from the guy.