Downie Fallout
September 27, 2007
McAmmond has been released from the hospital, but it will take time to know the extent of his concussion. Still waiting for the league to punish Downie on the hit.
The Senators got some good news on Dean McAmmond Wednesday.
The forward does not have any factures after being hit by Philadelphia’s Steve Downie in an exhibition game on Tuesday night.
The NHL is reviewing the incident but are not expected to take any action until they have a full report.
Meanwhile the best quotes on the incidents have come from an unlike source…the Leafs!
TORONTO (Sep. 26) — The league-wide repugnance towards Philadelphia’s Steve Downie for his obliteration last night of Ottawa’s Dean McAmmond spilled into the Maple Leafs’ dressing room after the club’s morning skate today. The Leafs host Buffalo in an exhibition game tonight at the Air Canada Centre.
Veteran Jason Blake had these comments about Downie: “I’ve got one thought… the kid should not be [allowed] to ever play in the league again. There’s no place in hockey for that. Our game is supposed to be fun, exciting, fast… and safe in the same breath. To watch that last night, it’s just unacceptable. Guys like [Downie] should either be suspended or kicked out of the league. To leave your point-man and run a guy all the way from the blueline… I mean, one day, a player is not going to get up. So, something needs to be done about hits of that nature.”
When asked about Downie’s claim that he has to play like that in order to crack the Flyers’ roster, Blake replied: “Has to play like what? That’s just a dumb comment from a kid that’s not going to make the Philadelphia Flyers. I mean, I watched the play over and over, and to see him hit Dean McAmmond with his head down, going full bore, and leaving his feet… [McAmmond] could have died last night. There’s absolutely no place in hockey for that and, if you ask me, [Downie] shouldn’t even be allowed to play hockey in the NHL again.”
The best quote came from Leafs enforcer Wade Belak, who certainly can not be considered a fan of the Senators.
Leafs’ enforcer Wade Belak plays the game close to the edge, and he incurred the wrath of the NHL in March, 2004 when he high-sticked Colorado defenceman Ossi Vaananen over the helmet, making a loud, cracking noise that echoed through the Air Canada Centre. He was handed an eight-game suspension for the incident, but Belak is not a head-hunter, and he also had harsh words for Downie.
“It was just a dirty hit, and I hope they really throw the book at him. You know, I did a stupid thing with that stick swinging, though it was unintentional. But, I’ve never taken a deliberate run at an opponent like that. Or blindly tried to hurt someone. I mean, he obviously tried to take [McAmmond’s] head off. But, the big problem is there is no fear factor in the game anymore, and there hasn’t been since the dumb instigator rule went in. I blame the league for that. When I came into the NHL, if I had done something like Downie, I think my own teammates would have slapped me around. If a guy does that, he SHOULD have 20 guys [from the other team] jumping over the boards and beating the crap out of him. He deserves it and it’s not going to happen again… he’ll think twice before he does it. Instead, you grab a player, try to get even for a teammate, and you get five [minutes], a game [misconduct] and other discipline… all for what? It’s a joke. I’m not the only player who will tell you this. We do need to police situations ourselves, to a degree. There has to be some sort of fear factor out there. Otherwise, first-year players like [Downie] can come in and hurt a veteran like McAmmond.”
Amen. Wade Belak for commissioner?
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