NHL
Bertuzzi could miss time next season, too

By John Wawrow
The Associated Press

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TORONTO — Todd Bertuzzi is done for the season, suspended yesterday by an NHL intent on sending the message that it won't tolerate premeditated attacks on the ice.

The Vancouver Canucks' All-Star forward will lose at least $500,000 in salary and could miss more time next season for the vicious punch that sent Colorado's Steve 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.

"This is not a part of our game, it has no place in our game, and it will not be tolerated in our game," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

He called the punishment "stern, harsh and quick." And he hopes the severity will stem the criticism leveled at the league since Bertuzzi slugged and jumped Moore from behind, driving him headfirst into the ice late in a 9-2 loss to Colorado on Monday.

The attack appeared to be payback for Moore's Feb. 16 hit on Canucks captain Markus Naslund, who got a concussion and missed three games. Both teams were warned not to retaliate.

Bertuzzi's punch was replayed on TV stations across the U.S. and Canada, and he and the league were condemned in newspapers in both countries, including a headline in The Toronto Star on Thursday that read: "Does someone have to die?"

"I think we will ultimately be judged on our response and the message that it sends," Bettman said.

Moore, lost for the season, has deep cuts on his face and two broken vertebra, but his spinal cord was not injured. He is in stable condition in a Vancouver hospital.
 
Canucks general manager Brian Burke was surprised by the team's fine, saying the NHL shouldn't blame Vancouver and coach Marc Crawford for what happened.

"We're not condoning what Todd did," Burke said. "We're not expecting to walk out of here without a penalty. We understand this incident is not part of the game, and Todd understands that."

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