more than a cheap shot

[chippa13 1844]

Agreed. As stated earlier, should he press the issue this situation will be settled just because it will be cheaper for someone's insurance company to do so.

[ponty 0]

Why does this crap always happen at beer league games? I dont get it at all. I find that it is usually the older farts picking fights with the younger guys as they get frustrated with their lost speed and skill.

I say this as a 41 year old who has lost several steps yet chooses not the get involved in this crap.

Bottom line guys for those of you playing these types of leagues, as hard as it can be, turn the other way with this kind of stuff. There are a load of hammer heads out there, of all ages, and this is something you have to man up and deal with.

[Chadd 916]

Why does this crap always happen at beer league games? I dont get it at all. I find that it is usually the older farts picking fights with the younger guys as they get frustrated with their lost speed and skill.

I say this as a 41 year old who has lost several steps yet chooses not the get involved in this crap.

Bottom line guys for those of you playing these types of leagues, as hard as it can be, turn the other way with this kind of stuff. There are a load of hammer heads out there, of all ages, and this is something you have to man up and deal with.

The worst situations I've seen have come in low level leagues with hot shot kids playing against beginners. Eventually one of those guys that didn't start until he was 30 will catch up to the kid and all hell breaks loose.

[Aggie 9]

Why does this crap always happen at beer league games? I dont get it at all. I find that it is usually the older farts picking fights with the younger guys as they get frustrated with their lost speed and skill.

I say this as a 41 year old who has lost several steps yet chooses not the get involved in this crap.

Bottom line guys for those of you playing these types of leagues, as hard as it can be, turn the other way with this kind of stuff. There are a load of hammer heads out there, of all ages, and this is something you have to man up and deal with.

The worst situations I've seen have come in low level leagues with hot shot kids playing against beginners. Eventually one of those guys that didn't start until he was 30 will catch up to the kid and all hell breaks loose.

Yeah, I really don't know why superstars play in a beginner league. We have two teams in our lowest level league with ringers. The ringers are always targeted and eventually all hell breaks loose. If I were that good, I sure as hell wouldn't play in a beginner league!!! I stay away from all that stuff. I play for fun and exercise. At the end of the day, is it really worth it to risk injury/fighting for beer league?!?!

[cch 0]

Thanks for all the well wishes guys, my CAT scan was good (it only takes like 10 minutes to read after you get out of the tube), but I have to start going to the neurologist.

I think the fact that there is a police report of the incident should help, especially the fact that the guy who did it is quoted as saying he should not have done it. In addition one of the older guys on my team knows the guy and seems to think the he may be willing to pay without litigation. I am planning on having a lawyer write up some sort of contract up that states what he will be paying for and see if he'll sign it, so we can all avoid a lot of bs.

I will also admit that it was dumb of me to retaliate to the hit but as Chadd said I think it is a big factor that this guy had nothing to do with that retaliation and in addition hit me when I could not even see him. I am not trying to make money off the guy I just think that he should have to pay for the damage he inflicted.

[ponty 0]

I find that the younger guys, the good not great, get a bit cocky and that combined with the older players lost / lack of speed and skill leads to the issue.

The point is that the kid is usually 16 - 20 and is not suppose to know better. The older guy should.

[chippa13 1844]

Please tell me this won't turn into another young vs. old thread.

[ponty 0]

Too late Chippa. :)

[Chadd 916]

Please tell me this won't turn into another young vs. old thread.

Nope, both guys are usually wrong in my book.

[Leafsrule16 5]

This will never see a jury and may likely never see a judge, either.

I agree, but it has nothing to do with the merits of the case. I've seen far worse make it to trial and garner an award.

True. It sucks for you but I just cant see you getting any money out of this. Im sure 75% of the forum would have punched you for a crosscheck from behind. I agree with the guy who said it was your injury history that caused it. The guy did hit you but he didnt hit you in the attempt to give you a serious injury and probably felt bad. It really depends on the judge, and there opinion i guess because in my eyes it could go either way very easily. I know i would have took a swing at you given the circumstances provided however, chances are if you hit someone in the back with a hockey stick there going to want to retaliate.

[shooter27 116]

All personal opinions aside, it seems that this question is best answered by someone that has an extensive legal background, i.e. a lawyer or a judge. While many people have plenty of experience with the legal system, they are not the experts of the system, lawyers and judges are. I don't know if anyone that has posted has a legal background, but unless they do I would take everything that has been said here with a grain of salt until you speak to someone in the legal profession.

[Chadd 916]

This will never see a jury and may likely never see a judge, either.

I agree, but it has nothing to do with the merits of the case. I've seen far worse make it to trial and garner an award.

True. It sucks for you but I just cant see you getting any money out of this. Im sure 75% of the forum would have punched you for a crosscheck from behind. I agree with the guy who said it was your injury history that caused it. The guy did hit you but he didnt hit you in the attempt to give you a serious injury and probably felt bad. It really depends on the judge, and there opinion i guess because in my eyes it could go either way very easily. I know i would have took a swing at you given the circumstances provided however, chances are if you hit someone in the back with a hockey stick there going to want to retaliate.

If you come out of nowhere and punch someone in the side of the head, you ARE trying to hurt someone. There is no other reason to do that, especially in a hockey rink.

[fieldofdreams 0]

CCH, I fail to see your problem. You got, in your opinion was a dirty hit, and you chose to escalate it by cross checking him in the back, chirping him, then laying a shoulder check into him. Once you choose to escalate the situation, you also choose to accept any and all fallout. If you had acted like a man and turned the other cheek, none of this wouldn't be happening, and you wouldn't be complaining about all the money you need to spend because of it. Instead, you got dropped by someone who was sticking up for his teammate, as we all would on this board.

Bottom line: You, and ONLY YOU, should accept responsibility for your actions, and not try to get someone else to accept the consequences for YOUR actions.

[eric42434224 1]

CCH, I fail to see your problem. You got, in your opinion was a dirty hit, and you chose to escalate it by cross checking him in the back, chirping him, then laying a shoulder check into him. Once you choose to escalate the situation, you also choose to accept any and all fallout. If you had acted like a man and turned the other cheek, none of this wouldn't be happening, and you wouldn't be complaining about all the money you need to spend because of it. Instead, you got dropped by someone who was sticking up for his teammate, as we all would on this board.

I would agree with everything you said if it werent a third party that hit him. The person who hit him was not involved in the initial hit, the second retaliatory hit, and hit him blindside after the issue had ceased and he was yelling at the ref. The injured absolutely shouldnt have escalated it, and should accept any consequenses if the person he escalated it with hit him. I think that sticking up for your teammate by dropping him blindside after the incident had ceased is even more reprehensible....and I am sure that the majority of people here would not have done anything like that. Im not sure if this would have any bearing in any legal case, but it does seem to me to be a significant factor that could be addressed.

Bottom line: You, and ONLY YOU, should accept responsibility for your actions, and not try to get someone else to accept the consequences for YOUR actions.

But that bottom line should apply to the third, unrelated person who sucker-punched him as well. The injured player should be responsible for any effects caused by him escalating the situation with the first opponent. Not from the second guy who sucker-punched him...who was obviously not rescuing his teammate, but merely was trying to cause a revenge injury.

Just my opinion.

[cch 0]

CCH, I fail to see your problem. You got, in your opinion was a dirty hit, and you chose to escalate it by cross checking him in the back, chirping him, then laying a shoulder check into him. Once you choose to escalate the situation, you also choose to accept any and all fallout. If you had acted like a man and turned the other cheek, none of this wouldn't be happening, and you wouldn't be complaining about all the money you need to spend because of it. Instead, you got dropped by someone who was sticking up for his teammate, as we all would on this board.

Bottom line: You, and ONLY YOU, should accept responsibility for your actions, and not try to get someone else to accept the consequences for YOUR actions.

I have a problem with getting punched in the head by someone who is not in my field of vision. Also its not like I knocked the guy over with a viscous cross check, it was just to let him know I was there, moreover I am about 5'8 and the guy I retaliated against was about 6'3. Its interesting that you are calling my ethics in to question when you are apparently running around punching people when ever you think a teammate has been wronged. So your telling me that when ever I do some thing that is even slightly out of the rule book I should expect to be punched in the face? That's ridiculous, this was an absurd overreaction to a play that was over and done with.

[chippa13 1844]

And that guy could be thinking the same thing about a crosscheck and laying a shoulder into someone for what may have been an incidental collision.

[fieldofdreams 0]

The injured absolutely shouldnt have escalated it, and should accept any consequenses if the person he escalated it with hit him. I think that sticking up for your teammate by dropping him blindside after the incident had ceased is even more reprehensible.

I agree that a blindsided punch would be considered reprehensible. Just as reprehensible as a cross check to the back, followed by a shoulder check.

The injured player should be responsible for any effects caused by him escalating the situation with the first opponent. Not from the second guy who sucker-punched him.

Let me start by stating that we know the OP has played hockey before. He should then know that if he is going to cross check a player from behind, chirp, then shoulder check, while again chirping, more than likely someone on the other team is going to have something to say/do about it. While I do not commend how the player's teammate chose to display his displeasure with the OP's actions, it is hockey, and teammates should stand up for one another.

I have a problem with getting punched in the head by someone who is not in my field of vision.

Funny you should say that. When you cross check someone from behind, YOU are not in THEIR field of vision. Glass houses, anyone?

Also its not like I knocked the guy over with a viscous cross check, it was just to let him know I was there, moreover I am about 5'8 and the guy I retaliated against was about 6'3.

What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Maybe he didn't think he hit you with a viscious punch. Maybe it just caught you in the wrong spot in your eggshell skull. After 6 concussions, it doesn't take a whole lot to get another one.

Its interesting that you are calling my ethics in to question when you are apparently running around punching people when ever you think a teammate has been wronged.

That's a mighty large assumption. No need to throw things like that out there. I DO stick up for my teammates, just not in a dirty fashion in which might cause injuries.

And that guy could be thinking the same thing about a crosscheck and laying a shoulder into someone for what may have been an incidental collision.

Thank you for the voice of reason.

[cch 0]

I get the same cross check standing in front of the net every game, and I hit him while he had the puck on the boards, I don't know what kind of hockey you play but my actions were far from reprehensible. If you consider punching someone in the face after the play defending a teammate then I made no assumptions.

[Johnny Law 0]

If you work with the hospital and explain your situation to them they are going to be a hell of a lot more likely to help you. Call them up and talk to a bunch of different people, all hospitals cut or pay bills in there entirety for some of the uninsured patients. Additionally they will be able to help you out with any state or local programs that could really help you out. Bottom line get on the phone and you stand a good chance of knocking that bill down.

Litigation is a bad move and I'm a litigator, the likely hood that you won't end up spending more money in fees than a possible award is very low.

[eric42434224 1]

Perhaps after you negotiate a lower bill or payment plan with the hospital, you can possibly talk to the guy and ask him for some assistance in paying. Perhaps a face to face, explaining the financial burden might guilt trip him into paying something. I think I read that he feels bad already....maybe a sob story, and telling him you "really dont want to talk to a lawyer" might help him with his decision.

If not, you always can go this route:

http://www.judgejudy.com/submit_case.php

[chippa13 1844]

I get the same cross check standing in front of the net every game, and I hit him while he had the puck on the boards, I don't know what kind of hockey you play but my actions were far from reprehensible. If you consider punching someone in the face after the play defending a teammate then I made no assumptions.

If this is a no-check league, which I assume it is, then throwing a hit will definitely garner a response up to and including a shot to the noggin.

[eric42434224 1]

Two wrongs do not make a right. His actions did not deserve a blindside punch to the head by a third party after the incident had ceased. He was wrong in his actions obviously, but in my opinion, any further "response" or escalation to it was immature has no part of no-check adult hockey. Not saying you are saying that it is "right", but I just think that people shouldnt think of those responses as "expected"....it only perpetuates the meat-head mentality you see too much of in beer league. JMO

[Leafsrule16 5]

This will never see a jury and may likely never see a judge, either.

I agree, but it has nothing to do with the merits of the case. I've seen far worse make it to trial and garner an award.

True. It sucks for you but I just cant see you getting any money out of this. Im sure 75% of the forum would have punched you for a crosscheck from behind. I agree with the guy who said it was your injury history that caused it. The guy did hit you but he didnt hit you in the attempt to give you a serious injury and probably felt bad. It really depends on the judge, and there opinion i guess because in my eyes it could go either way very easily. I know i would have took a swing at you given the circumstances provided however, chances are if you hit someone in the back with a hockey stick there going to want to retaliate.

If you come out of nowhere and punch someone in the side of the head, you ARE trying to hurt someone. There is no other reason to do that, especially in a hockey rink.

I respect your opinion but usually when i throw a punch at someone it isnt in intent to give them a concussion and put them in the hospital, its usually to shut them up. Maybe a black eye or something but i never intend to send anyone to the hospital and/or cause serious possibly life altering injuries. I meant as in the guy probably didnt intend to cause this much harm to the guy who he punched, as its a in the moment thing. If he hadn't have even been on the ice at the time chances are he would have forgot about the situation, its just something that happens out of rage, not trying to harm someone.

[fieldofdreams 0]

His actions did not deserve a blindside punch to the head by a third party after the incident had ceased.

How do we know it was a blindsided punch, other than the OP telling us so. After getting 7 concussions, conclusions can be drawn that he doesn't see an awful lot of what's coming.

[Chadd 916]

His actions did not deserve a blindside punch to the head by a third party after the incident had ceased.

How do we know it was a blindsided punch, other than the OP telling us so. After getting 7 concussions, conclusions can be drawn that he doesn't see an awful lot of what's coming.

At this point you're just being argumentative for the sake of prolonging the fight. Hopefully you're less antagonistic when you come back from your three days off.