Canucks: Bertuzzi Allegations "Scandalous"
Todd Bertuzzi testified to some controversial allegations when quizzed regarding the Steve Moore lawsuit. In case you live under a rock and don’t know, Moore was injured during a March 2004 game when his team, the Colorado Avalache played Big Bert’s former team, the Vancouver Canucks.
Bertuzzi basically said that former Canucks coach, Marc Crawford, “pointed to Moore’s name on a blackboard in the locker-room between the second and third periods of the game and told his players, ‘he [Moore] must pay the price.’”
The Canucks have said that at no time did the organization or its employees, including Crawford, encourage their players to seek retribution on Moore.
Moore, who has not played professionally since, filed a civil suit two years later.
The NHL suspended Bertuzzi indefinitely for attacking Moore, and didn’t reinstate him until Aug. 8, 2005 — exactly 17 months later. During his suspension, he was prohibited from competing in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, two world championships and in European pro leagues. He also forfeited $501,926.39 US in salary and hundreds of thousands more in endorsements. He entered a guilty plea to the criminal charges filed against him and was handed a sentence of one year’s probation plus 80 hours of community service.
For what it’s worth, I believe Todd Bertuzzi. He’s not my favorite player in the world but I think this has gone on for too long and I think it’s high time the league admits to this ugly side of hockey. Do I think Bert is innocent and should blame others for his actions? No, but I think that under the circumstances, after Moore acted the way he did prior to his injury, it’s understandable (but still not right) that a player might react this way - particularly with encouragement from the coach.
If the Canucks think I believe they didn’t endorse this attack, they’re crazy.
via CBC SPORTS
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POSTED IN: Fan Fare, News, Players, Vancouver Canucks
1 opinion for Canucks: Bertuzzi Allegations "Scandalous"
Do You Believe that Todd Bertuzzi Disobeyed Crawford?
Aug 19, 2008 at 12:01 pm
[…] has said that he acted on Crawford’s orders who allegedly said that Moore “must pay the […]
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