HOCKEY GONE WILD: The Todd Bertuzzi Hit

On March 8th, 2004, Todd Bertuzzi, forward for the Vancouver Canucks, attacked Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore with a punch to the side of the head followed by ramming Moore headfirst into the ice, breaking his neck. Moore suffered three fractured vertebrae, nerve damage, a concussion and facial cuts. Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs. 17 months in all. His punishment continued throughout the NHL lockout, which kept Bertuzzi from playing in the World Cup of Hockey last September, from playing in any European league and also the past two world championships. The Canucks were fined $250,000.
Bertuzzi was apparently miffed at Moore who hit the Canucks Markus Naslund so hard in February that the captain missed three games due to the resulting concussion.
Bertuzzi and Moore met separately with Gary Bettman for Bertuzzi’s reinstatement hearing on April 26, 2005. The Vancouver right-winger needed the commissioner’s approval before being allowed back into the league.
“I find that the appropriate discipline to be imposed for Mr. Bertuzzi’s conduct on March 8, 2004 is the suspension that has been served to date,” Bettman said.
“Mr. Bertuzzi’s actions were deserving of an appropriately harsh sanction,” Bettman continued, describing the hit as going “beyond what could ever be considered acceptable behavior in the National Hockey League. Mr. Bertuzzi must be held responsible for the results of his actions, and the message must be delivered loudly and forcefully that the game will not tolerate this type of conduct.”
The suspension cost Bertuzzi $501,926.39 in salary. He is due to earn more than $5.2 million from the Canucks in the upcoming season.As per terms of his criminal probation, Bertuzzi will not be permitted to play against Moore. That may never come to pass, however — as Moore is unable to resume his professional hockey career.
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