Friday, March 12, 2004
ESPN.com - NHL - McSorley empathizes with Bertuzzi's plight
Marty McSorley says he did not intend to hurt Donald Brashear four years ago. As a result, McSorley says he is "100 percent sure" that Todd Bertuzzi had no harmful intentions against the Avs' Steve Moore.
McSorley now coaches in the Phoenix organization in the American Hockey League, but the Brashear incident is still clear in his mind. McSorley hit Brashear with his stick, an act that led to a one-year suspension, which ultimately ended McSorley's career. He was found guilty of assault in a Vancouver court and sentenced to 18 months probation.
"At first I had trouble believing Brashear was hurt, even the following day, I really did, because I had never intended to hurt him," McSorley told the Vancouver Province on Thursday. "I wanted to whack him hard enough to make him mad enough to turn and fight me, as I'd done hundreds of times in the past. The day after I was in shock really."
Bertuzzi was suspended for at least the rest of the season and for the postseason by an NHL on Thursday. The Canucks' All-Star forward will also lose at least $500,000 in salary and could miss more time next season for the vicious punch that sent Moore to the hospital with a broken neck, concussion and other injuries.
The Canucks were fined $250,000 for the attack, which is being investigated by police.
Bertuzzi issued a teary apology Wednesday night, but he did not want to speak publicly after the suspension was announced.
"What I believe Todd is thinking is 'what has happened here?'," McSorley told the Province. "He's confused. He's a tough guy who stands up for his teammates and he's now in disbelief as to what's actually happened. Everything goes so fast. And then everything piles on. I couldn't believe how everything blew up, how it grew and had a life of it's own.
"I'm 100 percent sure Todd had zero intention of doing what has actually happened. He wanted to fight the guy, have him turn and face him so he could beat him up like every other hockey fight. When I was going through this, I was amazed how much people refused to listen to hockey people. There were people like [Bobby] Orr and [Gordie] Howe and [Barry] Melrose saying it was an accident but people didn't listen. They didn't want to. There was so much sensationalism. It's a media frenzy."
Marty McSorley says he did not intend to hurt Donald Brashear four years ago. As a result, McSorley says he is "100 percent sure" that Todd Bertuzzi had no harmful intentions against the Avs' Steve Moore.
McSorley now coaches in the Phoenix organization in the American Hockey League, but the Brashear incident is still clear in his mind. McSorley hit Brashear with his stick, an act that led to a one-year suspension, which ultimately ended McSorley's career. He was found guilty of assault in a Vancouver court and sentenced to 18 months probation.
"At first I had trouble believing Brashear was hurt, even the following day, I really did, because I had never intended to hurt him," McSorley told the Vancouver Province on Thursday. "I wanted to whack him hard enough to make him mad enough to turn and fight me, as I'd done hundreds of times in the past. The day after I was in shock really."
Bertuzzi was suspended for at least the rest of the season and for the postseason by an NHL on Thursday. The Canucks' All-Star forward will also lose at least $500,000 in salary and could miss more time next season for the vicious punch that sent Moore to the hospital with a broken neck, concussion and other injuries.
The Canucks were fined $250,000 for the attack, which is being investigated by police.
Bertuzzi issued a teary apology Wednesday night, but he did not want to speak publicly after the suspension was announced.
"What I believe Todd is thinking is 'what has happened here?'," McSorley told the Province. "He's confused. He's a tough guy who stands up for his teammates and he's now in disbelief as to what's actually happened. Everything goes so fast. And then everything piles on. I couldn't believe how everything blew up, how it grew and had a life of it's own.
"I'm 100 percent sure Todd had zero intention of doing what has actually happened. He wanted to fight the guy, have him turn and face him so he could beat him up like every other hockey fight. When I was going through this, I was amazed how much people refused to listen to hockey people. There were people like [Bobby] Orr and [Gordie] Howe and [Barry] Melrose saying it was an accident but people didn't listen. They didn't want to. There was so much sensationalism. It's a media frenzy."
