Patrice Cormier Suspension

January 25, 2010 by Mother Pucker
Filed under: NHL News 

Word finally came down today about what the QMJHL was going to do with Patrice Cormier, and I have to say that I’m pretty happy with the decision. Cormier has been suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs (no mention of the Memorial Cup, but are they even going there?). I would have preferred a lifetime ban from junior hockey in Canada but that may have just expedited his trip to the NHL/AHL.

Now that the Q has taken care of their end, it’s going to be up to the authorities in Quebec to decide if there will be any criminal proceedings against Cormier for his vicious elbow that caused quite a bit of damage. Let’s examine the Criminal Code of Canada, shall we?

Aggravated Assault – 268. (1) Every one commits an aggravated assault who wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant.
(2) Every one who commits an aggravated assault is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

Assault Cause Bodily Harm – 269 Every one who unlawfully causes bodily harm to any person is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months.

I haven’t fully made up my mind when it comes down to what would be an appropriate charge to be laid, but I am leaning towards the two above, and more towards aggravated assault. If this does go ahead, and they go with a single count of assault it will be an injustice that won’t make people on any end happy. How so? So a guy sucker punches a guy in the bar and knocks out a tooth, he will get Assault BH. A hockey player causes this much damage? Yeah, they aren’t even on the same scale, so thats why I say it has to be at least the bodily harm section.

Alternatively when you read the aggravated assault section you see that it says “endangers the life of the complainant.” Could this not be seen in that light? I’ve seen quotes from Cormier about it being an accident and just a twitch or some garbage like that, but you can’t fool me, and I’m sure that you aren’t going to be able to fool the authorities involved in this investigation. You had clear intent to cause serious injury to the complainant. You also have a history of similar hits, albeit this one being the most vicious and blatant offence.

No matter which way this problem is dealt with there will be people angry with how it pans out. You now have a good idea of where I stand on this whole issue.

Comments

3 Comments on Patrice Cormier Suspension

  1. Bill on Tue, 26th Jan 2010 8:18 am

    2. Cormier will probably practise with the New Jersey Devils and be housed in a nice apartment in Long Island. That’s better than playing junior hockey in Noranda,Quebec. Cormier wins this one.

  2. George on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:28 am

    3. Somebody needs to hit Patrice really hard and hurt him. After that, he’ll know how it feels to play dirty.

  3. Hockey Player Criminaly Charged : Mother Pucker Hockey on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 9:26 am

    4. [...] I’ve mentioned before in the Patrice Cormier incident, it seems that the ice has been that one lawless area that hasn’t been touched much before, [...]

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!





eXTReMe Tracker