Vanouver defenseman Aaron Rome was suspended by the NHL Tuesday for his hit on Boston forward Nathan Horton in the Bruins' 8-1 victory Monday night in the Stanley Cup finals.
Rome will be gone for the next four games, and if the finals are completed in less than seven, he will finish his sentence next season.
Rome's hit on Horton left the Bruins winger on the ice for several minutes before being loaded into an ambulance and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. It was reported during the game that Horton had feeling in his arms and legs, but he will be out for the remainder of the playoffs with a severe concussion.
I applaud the league for stepping up, but when will these acts of "goonism" end? Rome's hit will the big topic concerning the finals on all major sports networks. The NHL is No. 4 in terms of popularity and acceptance in the United States, and some would argue further down that list, and it can't afford to let this happen.
My solution would be stiffer penalties. Three strikes and your out. First offense: Half the season. Second offense: The whole season. Third offense: Find somewhere else to play hockey.
Maybe that's extreme, but something needs to be done.
Rome is no where near as important to the Canucks as Horton is to Boston. I'm not saying he was sent out to do damage, but it's something to ponder.
Vancouver's Alex Burrows started all this in Game 1 with his imfamous bite on the Bruins' Patrice Bergeron and it has escalated from there.
The third period of Monday's game resembled a bar-room brawl on ice than a hockey game. The officials did an excellent job of sending guys off, but it's hard to control that and it just takes one more hard shot before someone is severly injured. And what's not to say that Horton will play again?
Ask Sidney Crosby how tricky concussions are?
One thing the NHL needs to set straight next season is the same standards for all players. If a hit is deemed dirty, its the same punishment for a 'superstar' as a 4th liner. Also, organizations need to be held accountable, not just the player. As stated, Horton for Rome is a trade the Canucks will take 10 times out of 10. Classic hatchett job, I run a hockey blog and wouldn't have been able to pick Rome out of a lineup before last night. I hope the Bruins route the Nucks again in game 4 and turn this series from a marred sham to a classic finals. The folks up north got a shiney new team to play with already this spring, let us Yanks keep the Cup down here for the 18th staight year. I'm no Bruin fan, but I want to see them win this series the more I see from Vancouver and hear from their supporters.
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