NHL Rules Committee Weighing Ban On Manslaughter

ONTARIO, CANADA--Following a vicious hit by the Canucks’ Todd Bertuzzi on Colorado’s Steve Moore, the NHL rules committee has convened to weigh several rule changes in an attempt to stop the escalating violence. One change being discussed is a permanent ban on manslaughter, the popular practice that has been a staple of hockey since the early 70’s. If the ban is instituted, it could change the face of the league forever.

“The culture of violence in this league must change,” said Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL and director of the rules committee. “It’s something that’s going to take a long time, but the elimination of bludgeoning, head bashing, neck breaking, and manslaughter will help turn the tides. Hockey traditionalists may be disappointed, but that’s too bad. The health and well-being of our players is the most important thing right now.”

The Bertuzzi hit sent Moore to the hospital with a broken neck, concussion, and other injuries. The league fined the Canucks $250,000 and suspended Bertuzzi for the rest of the season. Police are also investigating the incident.

Bertuzzi, one of the league’s top power forwards, offered a tearful apology to Moore a day after the attack.

“I didn’t want that to happen. I’m sorry I hurt you so bad, Steve,” said a weeping Bertuzzi at a press conference Thursday. “I really had no intention of injuring the guy. Who knew that a routine manslaughter could turn out so badly?”

The NHL has been beset by violence recently. The past few years have seen an upswing in the number of crushing, injury-causing hits. Just last season, Donald Brashear of the Canucks was hospitalized after Marty McSorley struck him in the head with his stick. McSorley was convicted of assault, but served no jail time. That hit caused such uproar that the rules committee briefly considered the manslaughter ban. But they got cold feet after pondering the implications of banning one of hockey’s most appealing qualities.

Rangers assistant Terry O’Reilly, a self proclaimed hockey purist, blasted the rules committee for its “spinlessness and hypocrisy.”

“To ban manslaughter is the height of hypocrisy,” O’Reilly said. “Years ago, they used to promote that kind of thing. They’d tell us ‘Go out there and hit someone. We need something for the highlight films.’ I killed 7 players during my career. Killed the bastards dead. And nobody complained. Now all of a sudden manslaughter has no place in hockey. My ass. Manslaughter makes hockey exciting. Otherwise it’s just a bunch of dudes skating around.”

But the pressure on the league to make changes is increasing. This week’s issue of Sports Illustrated features a cover story titled ‘Manslaughter: Should it be Illegal?’

Bryant Gumbel, host of HBO’s Real Sports, held a roundtable discussion on the issue, with the majority of panelists coming down on the side of the manslaughter ban. Clearly, the public has had enough of the violence.

“The brutality that has been so accepted by the NHL and its fans is being attacked from all corners of society,” said Gumbel. “Many casual observers of the league are wondering why something that is illegal on the streets is perfectly acceptable on the ice. The NHL has dodged this criticism for years, but with an increasing number of serious injuries resulting from hits, it will be forced to look in the mirror and take action. This is Bryant Gumbel. Coming up next week – a report on some kind of sex scandal, some young black athlete who’s overcome a bunch of adversity, or a shocking account of a hazing ritual gone bad. See if you can guess which one it is”

The NHL has long been accused of using violence and brutality to promote its product. From officially licensed video games that allow users to engage in fistfights with opponents, to highlight videos that showcase the hardest, most bruising hits, the league has leaned on the violence angle for years. The impending ban on manslaughter would effect a fundamental shift in the way hockey presents itself to the general public.

“Certainly we would need to alter our marketing strategy to accommodate the new image for the NHL,” said Shirley Greer, director of marketing for the league. “But remember, the committee has not yet officially decided to institute the ban on manslaughter, so its perfectly acceptable to include the Bertuzzi hit on our 2004 NHL’s Most Sadistic Hits compilation tape. If the ban does go through, we are prepared to accentuate the grace and skill of modern hockey. Have you seen the New Jersey Devils neutral zone trap defense? Whew! Talk about exciting. You can bet that will make our Most Amazing Scoreless Ties compilation tape.”