McSorley Says He Took Rap for NHL

Marty McSorley insists he took the rap for the NHL during his assault trial, when he could have aired the league’s dirty laundry to save himself.

“I absolutely refused to put the game of hockey on trial,” he said. “I could have had coaches, general managers, Hall of Famers testify. I could have showed hours of videos, which would have showed ugly incidents of what really happens in the NHL. I didn’t feel that was necessary. I didn’t want to turn this into a circus.”

McSorley spoke to the Toronto Sun, Vancouver Province and the Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence, Mass., in his first extensive remarks since he was convicted Friday of assault with a weapon for striking Donald Brashear of the Vancouver Canucks in the head with his stick.

“It’s unfortunate that the only place I was able to bring light upon the situation was in a court of law,” he said. “Many people wanted this to be a trial about violence in hockey and I did my best to steer away from that.”

McSorley said he received much support from players who encouraged him to tell all.

McSorley, 37, escaped jail time and was placed on 18 months of probation.

The defenseman says he intends to see NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about reinstatement in the next 10 days.

He told the newspapers that he has had feelers from teams and is considering playing in Germany.