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Thursday, February 24, 2000
McSorley suspension leaves Messier with mixed feelings
ANAHEIM, Calif. (CP) -- Given the chance, Marty McSorley probably wants to undo the damage he's done to another player, the league, and himself with his vicious slash on Donald Brashear, Vancouver Canucks captain Mark Messier said Wednesday.But time can't be changed and Messier is satisfied with the suspension the NHL imposed on McSorley, which will keep the Boston Bruins defenceman out of the game for the rest of the season.
"If everyone involved could rewind the clock and have a chance to do it over again, I know we would, including Marty," said Messier, a teammate of McSorley's for three years in Edmonton.
"I feel sorry for Marty. He's been like a brother to me. I hate to see the things that happened with Marty. It's unfortunate for the game of hockey."
McSorley was handed the longest suspension for violence in league history -- the Bruins' remaining 23 regular-season games as well as the playoffs -- for swinging his stick and bashing Brashear on the temple in the final seconds of a game Monday in Vancouver.
McSorley, who apologized afterward, will also forfeit $72,000 in salary.
Messier, one of the most feared players in the league during his younger years, was content with the league's action.
"I don't think anyone can anticipate something like this happening, including the league," he said prior to the Canucks' game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
"I think the people that are in charge of disciplinary action have talked about it. We, as a league, have to support the league and unify in times like this."
Brashear, who suffered a concussion and will be out of action for at least two to three weeks, didn't travel with the team to California.
Like many people, Canucks forward Brad May was mystified by McSorley's attack.
McSorley, a six-foot-one, 235-pound Hamilton native, has spent 62.5 hours in the penalty box during his 17-year NHL career, but is known as a hard-nosed fighter, not a cheap-shot artist.
"You can't condone an act like that," said May, who also isn't afraid to drop the gloves.
"For years he was a tough, honest competitor. It's crazy it had to get to this point. It was probably an isolated incident but when you take that in your own hands you face a penalty. I hope everybody learns and moves ahead."
Canucks coach Marc Crawford wants to put the incident behind him.
"The best thing for us all now is to move forward," Crawford said. "It's been a difficult time for our sport and we have to move forward."
Defenceman Murray Baron said the suspension proved the league won't tolerate malicious violence.
"It's the longest suspension in the history of the league and it's sending a pretty good message," Baron said.
McSorley didn't attend the hearing in New York. His agent Mike Barnett said his 36-year-old client hopes to play next year.
The stomach-turning assault has been replayed on television across Canada and the United States. Newspapers in both countries used the incident to criticize violence in hockey and the NHL's refusal to outlaw fighting.
Messier said McSorley, soft-spoken and articulate off the ice, probably regrets the pain he's caused Brashear and the controversy he's brought the game.
"I'm sure he's thinking about it," Messier said. "We're also responsible for our actions. Marty is a stand-up guy. He's going to take full responsibility for what he did.
"Other than that, there's not much else to be said."
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