Patrice Cormier LHJMQ, elbow to the head

[RadioGaGa 162]

And someone will put him in an NHL jersey because he does that stuff.

Dollars to donuts, any lengthly suspension handed out for this elbow and Cormier shows up in Lowell or the "I" within a week.

Still too young for the "A" isnt' he?

[BenderHockey 127]

Most of his hits were like that. Stevens was a dirty hitter if you ask me, which i understand no one has.

[chippa13 1844]

Just checked and I believe you're correct. Well, welcome to the "I" Mr. Cormier.

[Law Goalie 147]

Lou obviously hasn't watched the video

That was a fucking disgrace. he didn't even make any attempt to line the guy up, just launched an elbow into the side of his head a la Corey Perry on Claude Giroux. If he doesn't get the book for that, then something is screwed the hell up in the disciplinary system. Someone should have fed him their stick so he's shitting teeth for a month.

Lou was/is the GM in NJ, the team that had Scott Steven on the roster doing that on a regular basis just a few years ago.

I never saw Stevens do anything that gross. He is no angel but I don't think he would throw a cheap elbow like that.

Langkow.

[vek 0]

Absolutely sickening. Probably the worst scene I've ever witnessed in hockey.

[Da Beez 0]

Lou obviously hasn't watched the video

That was a fucking disgrace. he didn't even make any attempt to line the guy up, just launched an elbow into the side of his head a la Corey Perry on Claude Giroux. If he doesn't get the book for that, then something is screwed the hell up in the disciplinary system. Someone should have fed him their stick so he's shitting teeth for a month.

Lou was/is the GM in NJ, the team that had Scott Steven on the roster doing that on a regular basis just a few years ago.

I never saw Stevens do anything that gross. He is no angel but I don't think he would throw a cheap elbow like that.

Langkow.

Here it is:

It doesn't look the same to me.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Not even comparable, IMO.

[Chadd 916]

Langkow.

The Kariya hit was pretty bad and well after the puck was gone.

He left his feet to hit Kozlov in the head

You can also try and find video of his hits on Bob Bassen and Kris King (after the whistle).

Not even comparable, IMO.

I agree, this is more like the Downie incident to me. He came off the bench and went right out and tagged the guy in the head. I'm just saying Stevens was a headhunter and if that didn't bother Lou on some level, then this won't either.

[adam14 182]

I still find it quite ironic that Patrick Roy is filing for criminal charges.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Not even comparable, IMO.

I agree, this is more like the Downie incident to me. He came off the bench and went right out and tagged the guy in the head. I'm just saying Stevens was a headhunter and if that didn't bother Lou on some level, then this won't either.

He just wasn't quite so obvious about it.

[Chadd 916]

Not even comparable, IMO.

I agree, this is more like the Downie incident to me. He came off the bench and went right out and tagged the guy in the head. I'm just saying Stevens was a headhunter and if that didn't bother Lou on some level, then this won't either.

He just wasn't quite so obvious about it.

He was good at catching someone that was engaged with another player and was able to target the head with his shoulder. He didn't have to throw out the elbow very often.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

Jesus. I don't even know what to say to that... I hope the other kid's alright. Sounds like he's going to be released tomorrow from what I read on TSJN.

[Neo5370 132]

I rarely have time to write anymore but this triggered my innate sense of right and wrong to the point that not only am I writing here to voice my outrage, I have written to QMJHL, the NHL, and the NJ Devils organization voicing my opinion.

To all of you who are as disgusted as I am I encourage you to voice your opinion as well. I know it is highly unlikely that my letter will be read by anyone who has the power or inclincation to do anything but who knows, maybe it will slip through or get to someone's desk.

Just go to the Contact Us link at each organizations website and write a short email, or a long email, anything.

If we all truly do want the game to embrace skill over inexcusable behavior we have to let those at the highest level know. We want the game to grow. It is things like this (among others) that prevent ice hockey from being a premier sport in the US.

I know there are going to be dissenters from this opinion and Mods may even feel this is an inappropriate message, but I sincerely hope otherwise.

No one deserves to step onto the ice and have to be carried off it.

Please write!

P.S. One final thought. If it is sickening to know there is a professional team that thinks it acceptable to hire this man, imagine how many children will grow up thinking it is acceptable to act like him?

[Michael9 57]

*NEWS* Cormier has suspended indefinitely. Waiting to see what happens next. In my opinion, this is alot worse than the Liambas(which i don't think meritted a years suspension, but thats a hole other can of worms.) I can't see the Q not suspending him for at least the same amount of time.

[Chadd 916]

P.S. One final thought. If it is sickening to know there is a professional team that thinks it acceptable to hire this man, imagine how many children will grow up thinking it is acceptable to act like him?

I'll repeat myself; This organization employed Scott Stevens, why are you surprised?

[shooter27 116]

Stevens was definitely a headhunter, but at least he usually (clearly not always) used his shoulder, which is generally considered to be legal (whether it should be or not is another matter entirely), not his elbow.

The whole Cormier thing is sickening, as is what Lamoriello said - unless he hasn't seen the video, which the article kind of implies. I can't imagine that he wouldn't have seen the video, but if he has and still can say that he didn't see anything wrong with the hit then I have lost a lot of respect for someone I've always thought of as a good hockey man. Like I said earlier, I would really like to see the NHL/AHL/ECHL/IHL stand behind and possibly extend whatever punishment the Q hands down. IMO a suspension for the rest of the year, AND NEXT YEAR, where he not only can't play in the Q, but he can't play in any of those leagues either. What that would do is to take two very important years of development away from a player attempting to develop his abilities to play in the NHL. Doing something like that would make all Junior, College, etc. players take notice and understand if they do something like this, not only will they be punished, but they will be punished in such a way that their development is impeded and their chances of realizing their dream and playing at the NHL level will be seriously harmed. To me, thats the only way you'll be able to eradicate stuff like this from the game.

[Chadd 916]

The whole Cormier thing is sickening, as is what Lamoriello said - unless he hasn't seen the video, which the article kind of implies. I can't imagine that he wouldn't have seen the video, but if he has and still can say that he didn't see anything wrong with the hit then I have lost a lot of respect for someone I've always thought of as a good hockey man. Like I said earlier, I would really like to see the NHL/AHL/ECHL/IHL to stand behind and possibly extend whatever punishment the Q hands down. IMO a suspension for the rest of the year, AND NEXT YEAR, where he not only can't play in the Q, but he can't play in any of those leagues either. What that would do is to take two very important years of development away from a player attempting to develop his abilities to play in the NHL. Doing something like that would make all Junior, College, etc. players take notice and understand if they do something like this, not only will they be punished, but they will be punished in such a way that their development is impeded and their chances of realizing their dream and playing at the NHL level will be seriously harmed. To me, thats the only way you'll be able to eradicate stuff like this from the game.

The NHL/AHL/etc... are not in the business of teaching people lessons, they are in the business of selling tickets. If having this guy in the lineup will help them sell tickets because of his talent or his willingness to hurt others, he will be in the lineup. The fact that Steve Downie is in the NHL is proof enough of that.

[shooter27 116]

I understand, but the NHL also spews a lot of rhetoric about cleaning up the game. Let's face it, everything I've read points to this kid being, at best, a second or third liner. He's not the type of guy that most people are going to buy tickets to see, so the NHL and the other leagues have the opportunity to send a message without really affecting ticket sales. If they do it now, maybe they are able to avoid being put in the position where someone who is a top-flight player does something like this and has to be punished. I never said I expected them to do it, I just said I felt it would be the best thing they could do if they really want people to believe they're serious about getting hits like this out of the game.

[Da Beez 0]

I still find it quite ironic that Patrick Roy is filing for criminal charges.

Having a criminal record might effect his ability to cross the border to play hockey. I guess he could come to Halifax and play at SMU with Mike Danton ;)

[K9 Unit 1]

*NEWS* Cormier has suspended indefinitely. Waiting to see what happens next. In my opinion, this is alot worse than the Liambas(which i don't think meritted a years suspension, but thats a hole other can of worms.) I can't see the Q not suspending him for at least the same amount of time.

i agree, one of the worst hits i've seen in my brief hockey "career", i'm so glad and damn surprised the kids pretty much fine, that was one of the worst results from a hit i've ever seen

[Dean_ 0]

That is definatly going to be a suspension, he is a tough player that plays with an edge but he took it too far there.

[cdoug55 0]

Ok I'm a long time devils fan so I may be a little biased, but I really think there is a major difference between this hit and some of those by Stevens. Yeah ok maybe he was headhunting a bit, maybe he left his feet, but this hit was just absolutely malicious. This kid left the bench with one clear purpose. Maybe its the lawyer in me, but I can guarantee that I could get a jury to see the difference - so I would think that as hockey players most of the people here could see the difference as well.

I also don't think that just because Stevens was with the Devils means that they would have no problem letting him play. That just says to me that you don't watch the Devils or know anything about their system. I don't think Lou or the coaching staff has any tolerance for a player that would bring that much negativity to the ice and jeopardize the team's chances of winning any game because of senseless actions.

[n3ss 0]

Don Cherry approves of this hit.

[Chadd 916]

I understand, but the NHL also spews a lot of rhetoric about cleaning up the game.

And most of that rhetoric is nothing more than lip service. The NHL will only address a problem after it has had negative (US) national attention.

Ok I'm a long time devils fan so I may be a little biased, but I really think there is a major difference between this hit and some of those by Stevens. Yeah ok maybe he was headhunting a bit, maybe he left his feet, but this hit was just absolutely malicious. This kid left the bench with one clear purpose. Maybe its the lawyer in me, but I can guarantee that I could get a jury to see the difference - so I would think that as hockey players most of the people here could see the difference as well.

I also don't think that just because Stevens was with the Devils means that they would have no problem letting him play. That just says to me that you don't watch the Devils or know anything about their system. I don't think Lou or the coaching staff has any tolerance for a player that would bring that much negativity to the ice and jeopardize the team's chances of winning any game because of senseless actions.

The difference between this and Stevens is simply a matter of degrees. There is no doubt that this was worse, but not much more so than some of the incidents mentioned. Disagree all you want, Lou didn't have an issue with the play.

"All I know is the incident that transpired. I certainly have spoken to Patrice," the GM said. "Only because of the rhetoric. I asked him how he felt because of the rhetoric. There is no issue from my end of it."

[Dean_ 0]

The good news is the player he hit (not sure on the name) has been released from the hospital, and now partick roy has reported this to the police.