IF TONY WAS THE JUDGE

BERTUZZI – MOORE

THE INCIDENT, PART 1

February 16, 2004, a Vancouver-Colorado game: Steve Moore body checked Canucks team captain Markus Naslund while Naslund was playing the puck in the neutral zone. Apparently Naslund did not see the hit coming. Moore's shoulder contacted Naslund's head on the play.  The referees did not call for a penalty. Näslund suffered a concussion and a bone chip in his elbow and as a result missed three games.

THE NHL RULING ON MOORE’S HIT

The NHL ruled that the hit was legal and ACCORDINGLY did not fine or issue a suspension to Moore. Canucks head coach Marc Crawford and general manager Brian Burke publicly criticized the non-call by the referees on the incident. Vancouver player Brad May declared vengeance on Moore; stating that he would put a bounty on Moore's head.

THE INCIDENT, PART 2

March 8, 2004, Avalanche and Canucks, third period: Todd Bertuzzi was sent onto the ice and tried to goad Moore into a fight, Moore ignored him and skated away. Bertuzzi skated after him, grabbed his jersey and punched him in the back of the head. Moore fell down & Bertuzzi drove his face into the ice. Moore was knocked out and lay motionless for ten minutes before being carried off. Moore received three fractured cervical vertebrae, facial cuts and a concussion. Moore hasn’t been able to play pro hockey since. Bertuzzi was suspended by the League for 20 games.

SOME CLASS

Bertuzzi took responsibility for the incident and apparently tried several times to apologize. Lawyers and impending legal action interfered. The consequences were severe. One player’s promising career was ended and the other’s conscience was haunted. Bertuzzi admitted his mistake and expressed a desire to move on with his life. "I'm sure for Steve Moore and his family, it's been difficult. I know I wish that day never happened."

SOME REASONABLE ACTION

On August 8, 2005, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Bertuzzi would be allowed to play again at the start of the 2005–06 NHL season. In the league's decision, they cited many reasons for ending the suspension, such as:

▪   Bertuzzi serving a suspension of 20 games, which at the time tied for 4th longest in NHL history (13 regular season games, 7 playoff games)

▪   Bertuzzi's repeated attempts to apologize to Moore personally

▪   Bertuzzi's forfeited salary ($501,926.39 )

▪   Lost endorsements (approximately $350,000.00

▪   Significant uncertainty, anxiety, stress and emotional pain caused to Bertuzzi's family

▪   The commissioner's belief that Bertuzzi was genuinely remorseful and apologetic for his actions

NO CLASS, NO CREDIBILITY, NO BRAINS

In July of 2012, former Avalanche enforcer Scott Parker, who had been a teammate of Moore's at the time of the Bertuzzi incident in 2004, was interviewed (PARKER must have paid THEM) by milehighhockey.com. Parker defended Bertuzzi and spoke in ‘goon talk’ of Moore. He is quoted as saying "Moore always thought he was better than everybody else. He went to Harvard. You know what?  Blow me (great literary skills. sired, birthed, raised and home-schooled to graduation at grade 5, by Great Apes). College grad. I never went to college (no doubt here), but I can kick your ass (Moron). I'll bring you right down to my IQ level (the same as the lie on his hockey stick) if you want. I'll hit you about four times (no worries, probably can’t count) in the skull, that'll bring you right down."

THE UPDATE

On March 28, 2008, Bertuzzi filed a lawsuit against Crawford, alleging that he was contractually obliged to obey Crawford and that therefore Crawford shares responsibility for the injury to Moore. Crawford later stated that before the attack on Moore Bertuzzi ignored orders from the bench to get off the ice.

On September 14, 2011, The Toronto Sun reported that both Moore v. Bertuzzi, et al. and Bertuzzi v. Crawford, will begin September 24, 2012 if Bertuzzi is still an active NHL player, or October 22, 2012 if Bertuzzi retires. Both cases will be held in the Ontario Superior Court before a six-person jury.

Neurosurgeons working with Moore have determined Moore has suffered a "permanent brain injury" so severe that it has done "serious damage to his post-NHL career." Moore himself has said that he still experiences headaches and difficulty concentrating.