Comments on: The Phaneuf Hit on Okposo

By: siouxinpa

siouxinpa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:36:40 +0000

Those things are chin straps? I thought they were handles to make helmets easier to carry to the rink. Who knew?

By: minnesotagirl71

minnesotagirl71 — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:28:54 +0000

“Bah.” Classic! Perfect hockey player response. I’m guessing hockey players loved ones would have a different response. I dread (almost as much as I look forward to) the day my nephew is old enough to play hockey with checking. His mother will have to be sedated for games….

I seriously thought Columbus was going to break Colton Gillies in half during last Friday’s game. He looks so little compared to many of the other guys….

By: Fish

Fish — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:36:20 +0000

Morency, imho, was right to go after Phaneuf. As far as I can see, Okposo was no longer controlling the puck, he was bumped from behind and then Phaneuf flattens him. I believe that to be a late hit. If a guy is not controlling the puck when he is hit, to me the hit is too late…

A guy like Morency has a purpose in the today’s hockey game as a guy who protects the star players on the team. Make sure nobody flattens them for kicks. And I think Phaneuf should have dropped the gloves and then the guy instead of wrestling Morency to the ground.

In the second video though Morency has no business holdin on to the albany player and even less business to be so pleassed with himself having won the fight. It shouldn’t have been a fight. I don’t care what he called your momma.

Of course, that is just my opinion, etc.etc…

By: jtbourne

jtbourne — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:48:46 +0000

My hockey player response to your totally reasonable, intelligent “tighten your chinstrap” comment:

Bah.

By: minnesotagirl71

minnesotagirl71 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:40:05 +0000

Regardless of if it’s pre-season or regular season, hits like that seem not only unnecessary but excessive. I love watching a good, clean hit during a game. They serve a purpose that’s integral to the game. But the ones that have that much impact behind them really freak me out . Okposo may only have a “mild concussion” but post concussion symptoms can last for months.

Someone mentioned that players need to tighten their chin straps…those helmets pop of WAY too easily. A little chafing is a small price to pay to protect your skull, your health and any future career opportunities!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:35:55 +0000

Justin.. I just read it and I agree on how amazing a person Morency is as a person.,of course ALL bpt LOVES it when he fights.. I am happy that he stood up for Okposo. because that is what teammates should do.. yes he’s not the greatest player besides the fighting.. but he plays with his heart.. Okposo is also very lucky that the hit wasnt any worse than it was. But I think… Pascal should of waited until his next shift(people say he was about to go on the ice anyways… debatable) then on the next shift.. he could of fought. Im sure thats not what goes through players minds.. but he should of thought before he did anything..if he had anytime to think.. Lol.
.If I dont make any sense of this… SOrry.. hehe

BTW I hope all is well and it was great meeting you while you were in BPT

By: T Jones

T Jones — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:20:02 +0000

I think it is interesting how Sutter reacted to the hit especially after his response to his sons hit last year which was very similar. In response to his sons hit he commented on the lack of respect in the game and although the hit was legal it showed the complete lack of respect that was present in todays game. However when one of his players takes a shot at a vulnerable defenseless player he simply says thats part of his game and dion cant pass on the hit. Obviously it is his job to put a positive spin on the hit to the media but at the same time it would be nice to see him at least keep a consistent stance.

Reading you twitter JB it’s interesting how a player writes that they need to protect each other essentially saying that there is a lack or respect in the game. We hear this constantly in the media and many players comment on this yet at the same time we deal with situations like this at least a couple times a year. Is there an answer to gain respect back in the league I don’t know but it is something that the league need to look into and fast or else we will keep seeing hits like this.

By: vek

vek — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:22:11 +0000

Jokinen was run earlier in the game, and instead of getting an instigator penalty for punching the stuffing out of the guy that did it, Calgary just sat back and waited for one of NYI’s star players to become vulnerable.

That’s how payback works in the NHL now.

Colin Campbell’s magic 8 ball style of discipline is an absolute joke, the players have no respect for each other, and the instigating penalty simply exacerbates these situations.

If I was a guy in the NHL, I’d go get one of those new Messier project helmets, a Dany Heatley shield, and stuff bubble wrap everywhere else.

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:29:42 +0000

In the regular season this would not be up for debate. The question is whether or not it’s appropriate to drill a star in the preseason, not whether or not it was from behind or dirty. (I’m assuming the check from behind you are referring to is the push from the back-checking flame?)

I’m sorry Bourne, I know you know some of these guys and have had a serious injury or two yourself, I don’t mean to be disrespectful or anything with points or comments. If it was up to me, I’d be seriously looking at taking head-shots out of the game somehow so we don’t have to have these “it was technically legal but looked and felt horribly wrong” debates.

By: Travelchic59

Travelchic59 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:16:39 +0000

If I read one more nutty response about Kyle “should have had his head up”, I will lose it. HE WAS CHECKED FROM BEHIND, PEOPLE! At that point he had no control over the foward momentum of his head going down. Just sayin.