The NHL / Chris Baker : Lindbergh Tragedy Raises Questions About League’s Alcohol Policy

Beer and soft drinks are usually available in the locker room for National Hockey League players after games, and it’s commonplace for coaches and players to have a beer or two just after the game ends.

In light of Pelle Lindbergh’s tragic alcohol-related accident early Sunday morning, is the league likely to forbid beer or liquor in the locker room?

It was reported Monday that Lindbergh had a .24 blood alcohol content, well over the legal limit of .10., when he left an after-hours bar and drove his red Porsche turbo 930 into a concrete wall in front of a school in Somerdale, N.J., early Sunday morning.

Lindbergh’s teammates had said that they hoped his accident would be an example to young athletes to avoid drinking and driving.

What better tribute to Lindbergh than to ban beer from hockey locker rooms?

Obviously, most athletes don’t get drunk on beer in the locker room after games, but shouldn’t the NHL take some sort of stand against drinking in the locker room?

John Halligan, NHL director of communications said from his office in New York: “Certainly there is no policy at this point. It’s up to the individual clubs on whether to have beer or not.”

According to news service reports, Lindbergh and other members of the team had been drinking at a bar in the Coliseum, the Flyers’ practice site in Voorhees, N.J., after a game Saturday night in Philadelphia.

“Pelle didn’t appear intoxicated. I don’t care what the numbers say,” Flyer owner Jay Snider, who was at the bar Sunday, told the Associated Press.

Snider said that the Flyers would not conduct an investigation into the incident. “If it’s going to be done, that decision will be made by the estate (of Lindbergh),” he said.

“Personally, I don’t believe an establishment is responsible (for drunken drivers),” Snider said. “I believe the individual should take responsibility.”

Halligan said that the league would not remove Lindbergh’s name from the All-Star ballot, since the ballots that have been distributed would have to be recalled and new ones issued.

“I have a feeling that the fans might want to vote for him as a tribute,” Halligan said.

He also issued a statement from NHL President John Ziegler: “Everybody associated with the National Hockey League is terribly saddened by the accident which befell Pelle Lindbergh. His talent spoke for itself and he rose to the very top of his profession. The entire NHL extends its deepest sympathy to his teammates and the Flyer organization.”

Coincidentally, the Flyers almost traded Lindbergh’s back-up, Bob Froese to the Kings a few days before the accident.

Froese will be the Flyers’ starting goalie when they play the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. It will be the first game since Lindbergh’s accident. The Oilers offered to postpone the game, but Flyer officials felt it would be better for the players to resume the schedule.

The Flyers plan some sort of tribute to Lindbergh, although it hasn’t been decided what they’re going to do.

Coach Pat Quinn of the Kings was saddened by the news of Lindbergh’s accident. Lindbergh was just coming up from the minors when Quinn was coaching the Flyers.

“His one real strength was that he was able to deal with the bad nights,” Quinn said. “He handled adversity well. He was a very likable young man. It’s certainly a great loss.”