The NHL / Jerry Crowe : Brawler Is Given a Stiff Suspension

The suspensions handed down last week to Coach Ron Lapointe and defenseman Terry Carkner of the Quebec Nordiques seemed to indicate that the National Hockey League was serious about repairing its image.

Under a new rule that was voted in last summer and was designed to eliminate the bench-clearing brawls that had marred several games the last few seasons, Carkner drew an automatic 10-game suspension for leaving the bench to join a fight on the ice during a game against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Nordiques were fined $10,000, and Lapointe drew a five-game suspension and was fined $5,000.

It’s a good rule.

But, when measured against the penalties handed down this season for more serious offenses, the punishment assessed in this case points up a startling disparity in the NHL justice system.

Contrasted with more serious offenses, all Carkner did was skate onto the ice and wrestle with a rival player, certainly not uncommon in the NHL.

Last month, Dino Ciccarelli of the Minnesota North Stars drew a 10-game suspension after he used his stick and “repeatedly tried to slice Toronto rookie Luke Richardson into a beef stew,” in the words of columnist Tim Burke of the Montreal Gazette.

Ciccarelli deserved punishment no more severe than Carkner’s?

That’s absurd.

Fortunately, the NHL Players Assn. is expected to reverse its stand against lengthy suspensions for incidents that involve deliberate intent to injure.

After being rejected two years ago, the idea of establishing minimum 40-game suspensions for stick swinging has been revived and will reportedly be seriously considered this summer.

“I know from discussions with player reps the last few weeks that a lot of them want to see it ended,” Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHLPA, told the Toronto Sun. “The debate is going to be how to end it.

“There seems to be a feeling that if a player knows ahead of time that swinging his stick and making contact will cost him 20 or 40 games, they’d accept that.”

According to the Sun, the NHL handed down 12 suspensions last season for stick-related incidents and has already assessed eight this season, ranging in length from 3 to 15 games.

Said Eagleson: “We want stick swinging to stop. Period.”

Marvin Hagler, former undisputed middleweight boxing champion and winner by knockout in 52 of his 67 professional fights, on hockey: “It is a brutal sport.”

Before he called him from the minors, what did Coach John Brophy of the Toronto Maple Leafs know about rookie goaltender Jeff Reese, who picked up his first NHL victory last week when the Leafs ended a 15-game winless streak with a 5-2 victory over the Kings?

“He’s got two legs, two arms and a mask,” Brophy said.

Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers became only the second goaltender in NHL history to score a goal when he sent the puck into an empty net in the final minutes of a game in December against the Boston Bruins.

In a game last month against Boston, Hextall absorbed body checks from the Bruins whenever he ventured outside the crease.

“If he wants to act like a player,” the Bruins’ Keith Crowder said, “we’ll treat him like a player.”

Dave (Tiger) Williams, used infrequently this season by the Hartford Whalers, bristles at suggestions that it might be time to retire.

“They’ll have to tie me to the Zamboni and drag me out,” he said. “I’ve heard all those lines about going out on top, but that’s the sign of a wimp. Quitting is for guys who have grown fat around the jowls.”

The rich get richer: Jiri Hrdina, captain of the Czechoslovakian Olympic team, is expected to join the Calgary Flames after the Olympics.

Said Flame General Manager Cliff Fletcher: “He might be the most effective penalty-killing specialist in the world.”

According to columnist Al Strachan of the Toronto Globe and Mail, a move is afoot to change the 7-year-old playoff format, which guarantees berths to the top four teams in each division, regardless of record.

If the season ended today, for instance, the Minnesota North Stars would qualify from the Norris Division although they are only one point ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had the worst record in the NHL before Tuesday’s games.

“I hope they’re going to change it,” said Coach Michel Bergeron of the New York Rangers.

The Rangers are last in the Patrick Division, but have a better record than the North Stars, Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Kings, two of which are guaranteed to make the playoffs.

“Whether they go back to the top 16 teams or go to a wild-card like in football, it’s really unfair the way it is now,” Bergeron said.