McSorley Ejected for Fight in Debut With IHL Team

Marty McSorley, suspended by the NHL last year for a stick-swinging attack, was back in fighting form and ejected from his first minor league game Saturday night.

McSorley, 37, a 17-year NHL veteran who won Stanley Cups with Edmonton in 1987 and 1988, signed earlier in the day with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the International Hockey League. Terms of the contract were not released.

At the 17:41 mark of the third period and with the Griffins leading the Utah Grizzlies, 2-0, McSorley joined in a melee involving several players from both teams.

He received a five-minute penalty for fighting and a game misconduct. Three other Griffins and three Grizzlies were penalized during the fracas.

After the game, which Grand Rapids won, 3-1, McSorley said he jumped into the brawl when he saw two Utah players pummeling a Griffin teammate. He said he had no regrets about being ejected for fighting in his comeback game.

“If it happens again, I’m going to get involved again,” McSorley said. “But I’m not here looking for fights.”

Grand Rapids has the best record in the IHL at 35-12-4 and is the top farm team of the Ottawa Senators. The Senators are rumored to be interested in McSorley, who is eligible to play in the NHL Feb. 21, exactly one year after his attack on Vancouver’s Donald Brashear.