October 27, 2009 · 12:23 PM
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Should Colton Orr Be Suspended?

 

There’s no question about it after watching the video of the fight. Let’s go over the rules regarding abuse of an official, courtesy of NHL.com.

Rule 40.5 -Abuse of Officials / Game Misconduct Penalty

(iii)  Any player or goalkeeper who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an official, physically demeans, or deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty and the guidelines set out in Rule 41 – Physical Abuse of Officials are to be applied.

Colton Orr pushed an official away to get free of him and continue fighting. Not only does this physically demean the official, but it also is a deliberate application of force. So, what does rule 41 have to say about this?

Since Colton Orr wasn’t intending to injure the official, his actions fall under the following clause of Rule 41 – Physical Abuse of Officials:

41.3 Automatic Suspension – Category II – Any player or goalkeeper who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official,shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.

Colton Orr needs to sit 10 games. Any less is a slap in the face to the linesman he shoved and every other NHL Official.

10 Comments

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  • http://thehockeycardshow.com hockeycardshow

    Watching it, it seems like nothing, almost funny I think.

    But reading the “rules” it seems like he is due for some kind of suspension…10 games seems like a ton though.

    I hope he does not get suspended, from what I hear the NHL likes to play in the gray area of the rule book, just ask David Booth

    Cheers,
    Justin
    @hockeycardshow

  • http://twitter.com/senjion John Moffatt

    Basically it comes down to whether the Referee felt a misconduct and a report was required. Orr wasn't even given a game misconduct so the Linesman obviously did not feel the little push was anything more than an indication that the altercation was no complete. The actual event would fall under Category III however, or 41.4 and not Category II:

    41.4 Automatic Suspension – Category III – Any player or goalkeeper who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.

    3 games at most. It appears that the official did not feel threatened and brushed it off as either being clumsy himself or being caught off guard.

    • http://www.hockeyism.com voteforgrant

      I would have said that it was Category III, but in my opinion he wasn't trying to “get free”. The linesman didn't have a hold of Orr and was just coming in to stop the fight. Orr shoved him before he ever got the chance to. That's MUCH worse.

  • http://www.theburgundyblog.com rboulding

    I think he deserves a suspension. The fight was dying out and the refs ALWAYS step in to wrap it up. They wait until the possibility of injury is slight. That act, however small, could have resulted in an injury to the official and if it goes unpunished could be an excuse for players to get away with similar physical acts.

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  • http://thehockeycardshow.com hockeycardshow

    Watching it, it seems like nothing, almost funny I think.

    But reading the “rules” it seems like he is due for some kind of suspension…10 games seems like a ton though.

    I hope he does not get suspended, from what I hear the NHL likes to play in the gray area of the rule book, just ask David Booth

    Cheers,
    Justin
    @hockeycardshow

  • http://twitter.com/senjion John Moffatt

    Basically it comes down to whether the Referee felt a misconduct and a report was required. Orr wasn't even given a game misconduct so the Linesman obviously did not feel the little push was anything more than an indication that the altercation was no complete. The actual event would fall under Category III however, or 41.4 and not Category II:

    41.4 Automatic Suspension – Category III – Any player or goalkeeper who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.

    3 games at most. It appears that the official did not feel threatened and brushed it off as either being clumsy himself or being caught off guard.

  • http://www.theburgundyblog.com rboulding

    I think he deserves a suspension. The fight was dying out and the refs ALWAYS step in to wrap it up. They wait until the possibility of injury is slight. That act, however small, could have resulted in an injury to the official and if it goes unpunished could be an excuse for players to get away with similar physical acts.

  • http://www.hockeyism.com voteforgrant

    I would have said that it was Category III, but in my opinion he wasn't trying to “get free”. The linesman didn't have a hold of Orr and was just coming in to stop the fight. Orr shoved him before he ever got the chance to. That's MUCH worse.