Flyers vs Canucks

[Kutcher 0]

Did anyone see that classless game? Or atleast the highlights? Those Flyers have to be the most classless team in the league. Up 7-2 and Boulerice crushes Kesler with a crosscheck to the face. Pretty brutal.

Hopefully the NHL keeps the new "precident" and gives this guy minimum 25. Since lucridive suspensions are the way to go these days.

TSN Broadband

The highlights should be available for the rest of today. I'll try and find it on youtube.

Edited October 11, 2007 by Kutcher

[A.T.Hun 0]

Did anyone see that classless game? Or atleast the highlights? Those Flyers have to be the most classless team in the league. Up 7-2 and Boulerice crushes Kesler with a crosscheck to the face. Pretty brutal.

Hopefully the NHL keeps the new "precident" and gives this guy minimum 25. Since lucridive suspensions are the way to go these days.

Here's the article on ESPN with an accompanying video clip. The NHL has to come down hard on this. Hits like Downie's are stupid and dangerous, but that cross check from Boulerice could have put Kesler out for the season or even killed him. Sticks to the head have to be dealt with most severely.

[Guest micah]

I think it's safe to say that whatever career Boulerice had is done. I love the roughstuff, but I loathe cowardly cheapshots and stickwork with all of my being. He'll get 25 games and he'll lose his job - appropriately.

[Kutcher 0]

Thanks for the vid, its better than tsn's.

I hope he does get something worse than Downie, I mean a stick to the head has to be one of the pussiest moves you can pull. Although i find it funny how he does that and then stands over Kesler dangling his gloves hoping he got up to fight, like how many ppl would get right up from that.

I bet he'll still be in the league, some team will keep him around to fight for them. The only way I see him not being in the league and repeat offender's like him, is to fime the teams with a hefty fine of like 500K-1M. I just hope for the leagues sake they are as hard on him as they were on Downie.

[toby91_ca 620]

I don't know. I don't see that is being as bad as the Downie hit. Don't be quick to draw conclusions though, I think he deserves and will get a lengthy suspension.

One of the key differences is intent. When I saw the play, it looked like he was trying to stop him to fight (he dropped his gloves almost instantly). I wonder if he stick got higher than intended. I don't think it matter if he really meant to get him in the head, it was brutal and there will be severe punishment, I just wonder if the intent to injure would be the same in this case.

[JayUp88 1]

I am guessing he didn't come in there thinking he was going to rock him in the face, i think it was more of i want to rock him and get a fight going.

[Kutcher 0]

I dunno, I thought it was quite clear that he wanted to rearrange Kesler's face, and thought the easiest way was to drive his stick into it. You don't circle around the net with your stick eye level to intice a fight, the chippy stuff that happened before this was trying to intice a fight. He wanted to mess his face up, just as Downie wanted to put maximum force into a hit with the intent to hurt Mcammond as much as he could, all Boulerice wanted to do was hurt Kesler.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

It's not very often that a team up by many goals starts resorting to dirty play. I've never really thought of Boulerice as a dirty player, though. I seriously doubt that he was trying to start a fight while his team was up by 5 goals.

[toby91_ca 620]

I dunno, I thought it was quite clear that he wanted to rearrange Kesler's face, and thought the easiest way was to drive his stick into it. You don't circle around the net with your stick eye level to intice a fight, the chippy stuff that happened before this was trying to intice a fight. He wanted to mess his face up, just as Downie wanted to put maximum force into a hit with the intent to hurt Mcammond as much as he could, all Boulerice wanted to do was hurt Kesler.

Yeah, I don't really have a firm opinion on this one year, other than I think he deserves a lengthy suspension. By the way, he's expecting a suspension as well (see TSN article)

It's not very often that a team up by many goals starts resorting to dirty play. I've never really thought of Boulerice as a dirty player, though. I seriously doubt that he was trying to start a fight while his team was up by 5 goals.

From his scouting report at TSN

Owns a temper that can lead to trouble

[Turkey 0]

But aren't tough guys like Boulerice on the ice to prevent rampant stick infractions? I'm so confused!

In all seriousness, this guy took a baseball swing to the face of an opponent while playing for the Plymouth Whalers. He apparently enjoys this sort of thing.

Article

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Yeah, I don't really have a firm opinion on this one year, other than I think he deserves a lengthy suspension. By the way, he's expecting a suspension as well (see TSN article)

From his scouting report at TSN

Most enforcers do have a temper. There is a difference between dropping the gloves and trying to send someone to the hosptial with a cheapshot. I've just never thought of Boulerice as that kind of player, but this does change my mind on that.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

He definitely looked like he was trying to get him to fight, you can see him start to drop the gloves when Kesler is on the ice.

or maybe he was just trying to finish braining the guy if the stick didn't do it.

No matter what he was thinking, he crosschecked a guy right in the face. This better be at least 20 games.

As for Vancouver, wow. Gagne could've been sitting in a lounge chair by the far post on his goal. How do you leave someone sitting there like that for so long?

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I don't know. I don't see that is being as bad as the Downie hit. Don't be quick to draw conclusions though, I think he deserves and will get a lengthy suspension.

One of the key differences is intent. When I saw the play, it looked like he was trying to stop him to fight (he dropped his gloves almost instantly). I wonder if he stick got higher than intended. I don't think it matter if he really meant to get him in the head, it was brutal and there will be severe punishment, I just wonder if the intent to injure would be the same in this case.

Toby, I think you're right again, as usual. Intent will go a long way here. Although the 2 were battling earlier I too don't see this as being the same thing. I think, even though I disagree with it, that Campbell will take into account Kesler skating off on his own.

What do I think he should get: 10-15 games

What do I think he'll get: 10

Is using your stick being more or less heinous than a flying elbow to the skull (let's not forget kiddies, a stick to the jaw from 1 foot away is not the same as a 200lb object unimpeded, impacting at high speed with your jaw) the proof is in the pudding. Guys don't get up from hits like Downie's. They get up from shots like Simon's and Boulerice's. Not always, but i'm generalizing a bit.

That being said, I would be just fine with a 20 game suspension for him. More than that? I'd still be fine with it because I think its good for the game, but I don't think it was worse than the Downie hit, which equals 15 games IMO.

I dunno, I thought it was quite clear that he wanted to rearrange Kesler's face, and thought the easiest way was to drive his stick into it. You don't circle around the net with your stick eye level to intice a fight, the chippy stuff that happened before this was trying to intice a fight. He wanted to mess his face up, just as Downie wanted to put maximum force into a hit with the intent to hurt Mcammond as much as he could, all Boulerice wanted to do was hurt Kesler.

Actually, I keep my stick up pretty high when i'm so blatantly going to engage somebody because typically they will be doing the same thing, especially if they'd rather not fight. In this situation, with a Boulerice and a non-fighter in Kesler, i've seen it a million times where they probably would've jammed sticks and gloves into each other up high followed by Kesler taking off to rejoin the play. Of course, given his style, I don't think kesler had or would ever have any intention of fighting boulerice nor would he think boulerice would seriously try to engage him so he wasn't looking to protect himself from anything there. None of it really matters though, Boulerice might not have meant it but so what, you have to have control of your stick. He didn't.

[A.T.Hun 0]

Look at the ESPN clip. He had his stick up in the air, parallel to the ice, with both hands on it. What the heck he was doing losing it when his team is up by 5 with 6 minutes left is beyond me. Here's a quote from HIS coach:

It's unacceptable, it's something that we can't have. We didn't need to get involved in anything really, we had the hockey game in hand and that was the message on the bench, so that kind of stuff can't happen.

[wingslogo19 281]

This was a PPV game and i was at the pub watching it.. It was a dirty hit, but no where near what downey did. But there's no need in hockey for this s***. What was really bad is he even tried to drop the gloves after Kessler was already not getting up.. Im sure he'll get at least 10 games for this

[BlueMonk 102]

As for Vancouver, wow. Gagne could've been sitting in a lounge chair by the far post on his goal. How do you leave someone sitting there like that for so long?

Matt Cooke turtling and practically crawling between the officials' legs later in the game was equally pathetic. God, I hate that guy.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

I set up a poll in Poll Booth about the suspension. Take a look.

Guess the Suspension

[akustyk 84]

7-2 in a game and restoring to such crap?

never liked Flyers nor held a good opinion of but they're reaching new depths of their dorkness. f* bunch of skilless goons

[StaticWithABeat 0]

Similar in nature to the Chris Simon hit last year...intentional or not, the NHL is clearly trying to set a hard precedent by amping up the punishment each time something like this happens, so I expect he'll get no less than 20-25 games.

[Kutcher 0]

Toby, I think you're right again, as usual. Intent will go a long way here. Although the 2 were battling earlier I too don't see this as being the same thing. I think, even though I disagree with it, that Campbell will take into account Kesler skating off on his own.

What do I think he should get: 10-15 games

What do I think he'll get: 10

Is using your stick being more or less heinous than a flying elbow to the skull (let's not forget kiddies, a stick to the jaw from 1 foot away is not the same as a 200lb object unimpeded, impacting at high speed with your jaw) the proof is in the pudding. Guys don't get up from hits like Downie's. They get up from shots like Simon's and Boulerice's. Not always, but i'm generalizing a bit.

That being said, I would be just fine with a 20 game suspension for him. More than that? I'd still be fine with it because I think its good for the game, but I don't think it was worse than the Downie hit, which equals 15 games IMO.

Actually, I keep my stick up pretty high when i'm so blatantly going to engage somebody because typically they will be doing the same thing, especially if they'd rather not fight. In this situation, with a Boulerice and a non-fighter in Kesler, i've seen it a million times where they probably would've jammed sticks and gloves into each other up high followed by Kesler taking off to rejoin the play. Of course, given his style, I don't think kesler had or would ever have any intention of fighting boulerice nor would he think boulerice would seriously try to engage him so he wasn't looking to protect himself from anything there. None of it really matters though, Boulerice might not have meant it but so what, you have to have control of your stick. He didn't.

First off it has been noted that Downie hit Mcammond with his SHOULDER everyone knows it.

So cross checking someone in the face is less dirty than a little bit of a jump? That is just ludicrous. A little jump is part of the game, not a part that should be there but it is, using your stick as a weapon to hit someone in the face is one of the most brutal things you can do on the ice. Just because Kesler got up doesn't mean it wasn't a worse action, all that means is that the result wasn't as bad.

But since the NHL takes into account passed instances when deciding one's fate, they'll likely give Boulerice 25+ since he was suspended for a full year when he was in the OHL back in 97-97.

I personally find incidents like this and Simons are alot worse than any hit I've ever seen.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Since Boulerice is like Downie and has no value to the NHL head office, I'd suspect you might see a 30+ game suspension here.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

Toby, I think you're right again, as usual. Intent will go a long way here. Although the 2 were battling earlier I too don't see this as being the same thing. I think, even though I disagree with it, that Campbell will take into account Kesler skating off on his own.

What do I think he should get: 10-15 games

What do I think he'll get: 10

Is using your stick being more or less heinous than a flying elbow to the skull (let's not forget kiddies, a stick to the jaw from 1 foot away is not the same as a 200lb object unimpeded, impacting at high speed with your jaw) the proof is in the pudding. Guys don't get up from hits like Downie's. They get up from shots like Simon's and Boulerice's. Not always, but i'm generalizing a bit.

That being said, I would be just fine with a 20 game suspension for him. More than that? I'd still be fine with it because I think its good for the game, but I don't think it was worse than the Downie hit, which equals 15 games IMO.

Actually, I keep my stick up pretty high when i'm so blatantly going to engage somebody because typically they will be doing the same thing, especially if they'd rather not fight. In this situation, with a Boulerice and a non-fighter in Kesler, i've seen it a million times where they probably would've jammed sticks and gloves into each other up high followed by Kesler taking off to rejoin the play. Of course, given his style, I don't think kesler had or would ever have any intention of fighting boulerice nor would he think boulerice would seriously try to engage him so he wasn't looking to protect himself from anything there. None of it really matters though, Boulerice might not have meant it but so what, you have to have control of your stick. He didn't.

Wow, talk about a double standard here. There is CLEAR intent to injure here. Far more obvious than the Downie hit.

Show me on instance where it is acceptable to crosscheck someone in the jaw. For you to crucify Downie for what he did, and try to justify this?! Are you nuts? This is the worst think I've seen in hockey since Chris Simon wanted to be a lumberjack.

Again, it was Downie's shoulder not his elbow, regardless, a stick to the face (like this one) is far worse. Kessler was lucky to be able to get up and skate off. He is lucky to have his jaw intact, rather than wired shut. That is the type of thing that is unacceptable.

And seriously, 10-15 games? Lets start from 25 and work up from there.

First off it has been noted that Downie hit Mcammond with his SHOULDER everyone knows it.

So cross checking someone in the face is less dirty than a little bit of a jump? That is just ludicrous. A little jump is part of the game, not a part that should be there but it is, using your stick as a weapon to hit someone in the face is one of the most brutal things you can do on the ice. Just because Kesler got up doesn't mean it wasn't a worse action, all that means is that the result wasn't as bad.

But since the NHL takes into account passed instances when deciding one's fate, they'll likely give Boulerice 25+ since he was suspended for a full year when he was in the OHL back in 97-97.

I personally find incidents like this and Simons are alot worse than any hit I've ever seen.

It's nice to see someone else is of sound mind on these boards!!

[akustyk 84]

First off it has been noted that Downie hit Mcammond with his SHOULDER everyone knows it.

except that Downie skated at whole speed and jumped at McAmmond like a monkey, trying to ram McAmmond's head into the boards...

[Opie 308]

He deserves at least as much time as Downie if not more, he has done this before.

In the AHL I believe a couple of years ago he re-arranged a guys face with a Chris Simon type stick swing!

NO INTENT TO INJURE!!! WTF

What exactly is your intent when you thrust your stick into another players face, are you trying to start a tickle fight.

That was the same thing as what Downie did, and he deserves more because he already did something worse and didn't learn a lesson.

Link to his plea story

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...75BC0A96F958260

Edited October 11, 2007 by Opie

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

It's too bad it had to happen to Boulerice, I really like him. But his temper got control of him again, and now he is going to get 10-20 games.