NHL Suspends Kings’ Janecyk for Five Games

The Kings didn’t play Thursday so they didn’t lose a game, but they did lose starting goalie Bob Janecyk for five games.

Janecyk was suspended without pay by the National Hockey League for a stick-swinging incident with center Peter Zezel of the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period of a game at Philadelphia Nov. 3.

Janecyk will begin serving his suspension next Wednesday, which means he will miss a three-game trip to Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago as well as home games against Hartford and Chicago.

The Kings were unable to reach Janecyk when the suspension was announced Thursday morning. Coach Pat Quinn had cancelled practice after Wednesday night’s 7-2 loss to Detroit and given the players the day off. Janecyk took advantage of the free day to visit Disneyland with his wife, Jill, and 2 1/2-month old son, Bobby. He learned of the suspension when a reporter phoned him at home Thursday night.

“Well, I don’t know if it’s for me to say anything,” he said. “There’s really not too much I can do. I don’t want to make a big thing about it. It’s just making more headaches for the team.”

Asked if he felt the suspension was fair, Janecyk said, “No, I don’t think so. No, I didn’t think (the blow to Zezel) was that severe.”

Janecyk was involved in a scuffle with Zezel 53 seconds into the game, which the Flyers won, 7-4. It started when Zezel gave Janecyk an elbow in front of the King net. Janecyk responded by swatting Zezel in the ribs with his stick. Janecyk and Zezel then tumbled into the net, trading punches.

In the Kings’ previous game, the night before in Hartford, Whaler left wing Torrie Robertson had charged Janecyk from behind in the third period, and Janecyk had swung his stick at Robertson. Janecyk suffered lower back spasms afterward.

NHL Executive Vice President Brian O’Neill had conducted a hearing into the matter Tuesday in Los Angeles. Attending were Janecyk, King General Manager Rogie Vachon, Coach Pat Quinn, assistant coach Phil Myre, a former goalie; and referee Kerry Fraser. O’Neill looked at videotapes of the incident and also took oral and written statements.

In a statement released by the NHL office in Montreal, O’Neill said: “Janecyk, obviously frustrated from being charged by players both in this instance and in the game the previous evening, deliberately swung his stick at the Philadelphia player with considerable severity. His action could not be deemed a reflex action as there was a short delay between the collision of the two players and the blow by the goaltender.

“In handing down this decision it should be pointed out that although the player has not had a previous history of this type of activity, there can be no excuse or mitigating circumstances for striking an opponent in this manner.”

Quinn and Vachon said the suspension was too harsh.

Quinn said: “I guess I’m astounded and almost outraged. It was certainly excessive in comparison to the justice that has been meted out to the players in the past.”

Said Vachon, a former goalie: “We really feel that it’s definitely too much. We never expected him to be suspended for five games.

“We were really disappointed. We were shocked as a matter of fact. I don’t think he deserved five games for that type of blow. He (Janecyk) game him (Zezel) a backhand to the hip.”

Asked if the Kings plan to appeal the suspension, Vachon said: “It’s very difficult to appeal. You have to appeal in front of the board of governors and you have to fly everyone to the meeting. I’m going to talk to Bobby tonight, but I doubt it. I don’t think it’s going to do any good.”

Janecyk will be available for the Kings’ next two games, against Pittsburgh Saturday night and New Jersey next Tuesday, both in the Forum. It is likely that backup goalie Darren Eliot will become the starter during Janecyk’s suspension. Quinn, however, said that the team will probably have to call up a goalie from the minors to back up Eliot when the suspension takes effect.

They have two minor league goalies under contact, Glenn Healy at New Haven, Conn., and John Franzosa at Toledo. Vachon said that Franzosa has been out with a shoulder injury.

In a surprise move, the Kings acquired left wing Morris Lukowich of the Boston Bruins on waivers.

Lukowich is expected to arrive in Los Angeles today and will play Saturday night against Pittsburgh.

Lukowich, 29, is in his 10th pro season, seventh in the NHL. He began his career with Houston of the defunct World Hockey Assn. He spent seven seasons in Winnipeg and was traded to Boston on Feb. 2, 1985 for Jim Nill.

Lukowich scored a goal and assisted on four others in 14 games this season for the Bruins.