Belak Attack

[Grizzly]

After seeing Belak's two hander in last night's game I think he should be gone for the rest of the season including playoffs. About the only thing separating this attack from the Bertuzzi and McSorley incidents is that the player was not injured. Some of the comments of Leafs players that it was accidental because he was slipping were total crap. The replay shows that it was a deliberate attempt to injure and the NHL has to start making examples of such players to prevent future such incidents. And before certain Leafs fans get on my case about being partisan, I don't think losing Belak would hurt the Leafs a bit. They have enough tough players and he wouldn't even make an AHL team based on skill level (1 goal 1 assist in 34 games). His fleeing of the arena before the game was over shows a lack of character and could't have made him very popular with his teammates who were left to answer the media questions he should have been man enough to face.

What a disgrace

Belak's slash to Vaananen's face mirrors NHL's sick culture

By MIKE ULMER -- Toronto Sun

Teemu Selanne said last night: "Maybe somebody has to die before we learn."

And he may have a point.

A helmet and visor saved Ossi Vaananen's eyesight and perhaps even his life.

Vaananen, a 23-year-old defensive defenceman, was entangled with Maple Leafs winger Wade Belak midway through the second period of a game the Leafs had comfortably in hand.

And then, for no reason other than he is paid to play the game with a stupid disregard for others, Belak delivered a two-handed slash across Vaananen's face.

The storyline could have been Steve Moore one week, Ossi Vaananen the next. It wasn't just Vaananen who dodged a black eye.

"I just felt a big bang to my face ... I didn't know what happened but it sure hurt," Vaananen said.

What Todd Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore, a sucker punch and takedown from behind, in retrospect looked far less dangerous than what Belak did last night.

Only Wade Belak was lucky, and Ossi Vaananen was luckier still. Vaananen returned to the game while Belak was tagged with a five-minute major for deliberate intent to injure.

The Leafs 6-foot-5 enforcer was feeling his oats, having a few shifts before fared well in a first-period fight with Peter Worrell, another heavyweight, that delighted the Air Canada Centre crowd.

But those same patrons let out a collective gasp when they saw the replay of Belak's slash.

The Leafs run a special promotion on Saturday nights to encourage adults to bring more kids to the game, and you could just hear the parents admonishing the children never to do anything like what Wade Belak had just done.

I'm sure many of them tried to explain the difference between what Belak did in his fight with Worrell -- the manly, assertive cleansing that comes with smashing your fists into an opponent's face -- and the repressible act that is driving a stick into a man's head.

Many will tell you the game needs the Belaks because it has the Worrells, that the only cure for cancer is more cancer.

They are wrong.

Belak's job is to hurt people. Same as Marty McSorley's was. Same as Donald Brashear who, you might remember, McSorley clubbed with his stick in his last moment as an NHLer.

People whose job it is to hurt people are going to do their job by whatever means at their disposal.

The link between fighting and stick swinging is seen as an odious one by many.

As my colleague at the National Post, Cam Cole, wrote for one and all about the Bertuzzi incident: "It wasn't a fight, stupid."

But last night's blow was struck by a fighter, those necessary evils entrusted with keeping people accountable through random acts of violence.

Belak is a goon, an undisciplined, reckless thug who, through divine good luck, has found an endeavour that not only tolerates him but spectacularly rewards him.

You want a link between fighting and stick swinging? How's this for a link.

A few minutes after participating in a fight, one roundly endorsed by the 19,000 at the ACC, Belak helicoptered Vaananen with his stick.

SENSELESS

It was a violent, senseless act.

Kind of like the fight, but how can you expect Belak to understand the difference between pummeling a man face-to-face and attempting to crush his skull with your stick? Only in hockey's sick culture is there a difference.

Selanne sees a difference.

"At least in a fight, there's two guys face-to-face instead of sticks flying at your head," he said.

"What has to happen before we learn? This is something we have to discuss, as players and as a union. It shouldn't be dangerous to go out there."

[beachesl]

Good to see that The Sun, which has a history of glorifying violence, has taken a stand against it, at least in this article.

[DJT]

I think we need a hockey section on this forum, particularly with the playoffs coming up.

[beachesl]

Well, maybe a Non-Soccer related Section, to include things like hockey, gridiron football, Dr. Who, fashions, and rock tours.

[SeanKeay]

Belak didnt attempt to injure, he lost balance and smoked him in the back of the head.

He should be suspended because he couldnt controll his stick, but to say that it was anywhere near as bad as bertuzzi.. is a joke. You want to throw the book at him because he is a tough guy and wont be missed? Come on guys.. he clearly slipped and fell.

[Grizzly]

I've seen the replay quite a few times and he didn't accidentally hit the guy while slipping. He purposely wacked him two handed ala McSorley. If he was off balance it was due to the force of his swing. I don't think the book should be thrown at him because he is a tough guy and won't be missed although that factor might influence the league. I think the book should be thrown at him because he deliberately and viciously attempted to injure another player and as a warning to other players. I personally think the Leafs are a better team without him so I don't see any advantage to the Sens or another possible playoff opponent other than less possibility of having players intentionally injured.

[jonovision]

The only way that Belak wasn't intending to hit the player with his stick is if he missed with a roundhouse elbow and then hit him on the follow through. There really isn't any difference in my book between an intentional, wild-swinging, elbow to the head and a stick to the head. I think 6-10 games would be a reasonable penalty, but apart from the salary loss, it really doesn't hurt anyone as Belak is garbage, and he more than likely would be a healthy scratch for a few of the remaining regular season games (and there's no way he'll see the ice in the playoffs). And it's not as if the Leafs don't have anyone to fill the goon role while he's gone (Tucker, Domi and Marchment come to mind).

That said, the Leafs played a pretty good game the other day. I'm beginning to wish I didn't hate them so I could be happy if, miracle of miracles, the Leafs won the Cup (as I try to cheer for all Cdn teams). But I can't see that happening.

P.S. I wonder if Messier will be suspended the rest of the season (and, thus, the rest of his career).

[Grizzly]

I think Messier should be suspended too, possibly for the rest of the season but his attack was not as bad as Belak's. A spear to the groin is not likely to do as much damage as a two handed roundabout to the head. There was an Oliwa incident as well this weekend so it doesn't seem that the Bertuzzi incident has had much of a positive effect on the players tactics.

[Gian-Luca]

Bertuzzi's attack was pre-meditated, Belak's wasn't, there's a world of difference between the two & neither are defensible. Funny though how no Leaf fans started a thread on this board when Havlat did something just as bad, if not worse, a few games ago.

But a suspension will just be doing the Leafs a favour. It will make room for Tucker when he comes back, and if not him, then Stajan. Failing that Renberg or even Chad Kilger.

If you want the Leafs punished, force Quinn to play Belak. With Sunding & Mogilny.

[matthew]

I thought the Belak hit was pretty much exactly what Havlat did. It wasn't even close to what Bertuzzi did.

I think Belak will get a couple of games and that'll be it. The anti-violence bandwagon is filling and while that's a good thing, the irrational hysterics of some of the arguments I've read make it tough to side with. It's a problem, but it's nowhere near as bad as it's being portrayed.

cheers,

matthew

[jaydog2006]

Whhith havlat his stick was not out of control he was just stupid.With wade not only was he stupid he was reckless he won't get the rest of the year but he we get hit hard.Most likely 4 games and a warning.

[Grizzly]

The Belak incident does differ from the Bertuzzi incident in that there wasn't the premeditation of the Bertuzzi incident nor the associated guilt of the coaches. However, the viciousness of the attack is similar to it and much greater than that of Havlat's. Havlat was trying to cross check Rechi and got his stick up too high and ended up getting him in the face. This is similar to the Messier incident, there was some intent to injure but not to seriously injure (in this regard I believe the Bertuzzi incident was similar, it was reckless conduct that did not necessarily have to lead to serious injury but did). I don't think you can compare a cross check to the face or a spear to the groin with a two handed, roundabout slash with the stick to the head. I do think that Havlat's action was inexcusable and should have been more severely punished particularly since it was not his first incident this year, a 5 to 10 game suspension. I think Messier's spear also warrants 5 to 10 games and all of the players including Havlat who have tried to kick someone should also have received 5 to 10 games. The Belak incident is more similar to the McSorley, not premeditated but an absolutely vicious attempt to seriously injure a player. Either swing could have led to the death of the player if the right part of the head had been hit. Any viewing of the replay shows that the claim of the swing being caused by a slip is absolute crap. Any loss of balance results only from the force with which Belak is swinging the stick at Vaananen's head. When you are swinging your stick at this height and at that level of force there can be no argument or doubt that you are not trying to seriously injure a player. And I am not commenting on this because Belak is a Leaf. This is the second worst attack I have seen in the NHL this year. If any Senator does a similar action I have no problem with other posters commenting on it whether or not they are Leaf fans and if the criticism is justified I will agree with it. I think if the Sens end up playing the Leafs it is actually better for the Sens if Belak is available to Quinn because he is absolute deadwood on the ice. Even Rob Ray scores the occasional goal and plays pretty well defensively. He may not help the team a lot with his play but doesn't hurt it either while Belak just can't play hockey at all. I do have to commend the league on the 2 game suspension to coach Daryl Sutter and $50 000 team fine for the Oliwa incident (in additon to 3 games to Oliwa). It is about time that the team and coaches have to take some responsibility for the actions of the players if they are inciting them to play this way.

[SeanKeay]

Im sorry did i hear you correctly..

Havlat.. just wanted to hit his shoulders? and went up to high? I am sorry, there was full intent to injure. And Belak DID slipped, i have watched that a million times and he slipped.. he should get like 3 games but a whole season or 10 games.. no way.

[Grizzly]

I have also seen both clips many times. Havlat was being hooked and turned around quickly to crosscheck Rechi without taking much care of where. I could see that there could be debate on whether he intended to hit him in the face or not. I don't think he did but I could see that some might disagree. Even assuming he did intend to hit him in the face the worst he would have injured Rechi is a broken jaw or knocked out a few teeth. I don't see hardly any slip in the Belak film and if there is it is only in the process of whacking Vaanenen hard in the head with his stick. I can't see any unbiased person watching the video of this and not thinking that Belak intended to hit Vaananen with his stick. Even Quinn was critical of it. The worst possible injury resulting from such a swing is far worse than that which could have resulted from Havlat's. And unlike Havlat who talked to the media after the game and admitted he was wrong, Belak takes off and leaves his teammates to answer the media questions, doesn't take responsibility and comes up with some bull **** excuse. If I were a Leafs fan or player I wouldn't want a guy like this on my team especially since he has absolutely no hockey skill. As a Sens fan though I will be more than happy if the two teams meet in the playoffs if Belak plays as much as possible. The league should, however, heavily punish such actions as Belak's, three games would be far too little.

[SeanKeay]

Wade Belak may not be an nhl star, But he has enough skill to be on the team? With guys like Stajan, Fitzy and so on benched. Im not saying he i a good player, but he has skill.

Anyone who makes it to the nhl has tonnes of skill

[Massive Attack]

quote:Originally posted by SeanKeay

Wade Belak may not be an nhl star, But he has enough skill to be on the team? With guys like Stajan, Fitzy and so on benched. Im not saying he i a good player, but he has skill.

Anyone who makes it to the nhl has tonnes of skill

Sean, you were doing so well, until you tried to argue that Belak has talent.

[Grasshopper]

Seanio...did Danko Jones do brain damage to you?

Belak only has only 'skill' if you consider fighting to be a skill. I can't recall the last time I heard Belak's named used in a conversation about 'skill' players. (Ok, it's never.)

I think that maybe you're arguing that all NHLers can lace up a pair of skates and hold a hockey stick, and yes, Belak can do that.

Blair

quote:Originally posted by a Toronto Maple Leaf fan

Wade Belak may not be an nhl star, But he has enough skill to be on the team? Im not saying he i a good player, but he has skill. Anyone who makes it to the nhl has tonnes of skill.

[Ryan Keay]

quote:Originally posted by Grasshopper

Seanio...did Danko Jones do brain damage to you?

Belak only has only 'skill' if you consider fighting to be a skill. I can't recall the last time I heard Belak's named used in a conversation about 'skill' players. (Ok, it's never.)

I think that maybe you're arguing that all NHLers can lace up a pair of skates and hold a hockey stick, and yes, Belak can do that.

Blair

The use of the term skill is pretty subjective, but there aren't any players in the NHL who are unskilled. I'm sure Mr. Belak can skate circles around minor leaguers. Those same minor leaguers who terrorized defenses in their junior careers. The Belak's, and all the 'no talent goons' in the NHL still probably have more talent than 99.9% of hockey players being paid to play the game. I'd say thats a reasonable description of skill.

[sstackho]

quote:Originally posted by Grasshopper

Seanio...did Danko Jones do brain damage to you?

The Mango Kid has the longest tongue I've ever seen. []

[SeanKeay]

OH MAN, we have danko fans on the board!!!!!!!

And My bro is right, i didnt mean he is full of pure skill... but if he made it to the nhl, he must have some sort of hockey skill. Thats all im saying, hes better then anyone on this board... SO you can not say he has no skill

AND.... belak got 8 games... and Messier 2..

Somthing seems fishy to me

[jonovision]

I'd say that Belak (8 games) got what he deserved, while Messier (2 games) was under-punished, probably because if they suspended him for 8 games, then he's played his last game. Messier probably deserved 5 or 6 for what he did (very dirty play, but at least it wasn't a head shot).

[Grasshopper]

I'd disagree with you Ryan. Maybe Danko damaged your brain, too. Maybe I'm the only guy that walked out of Lee's Palace unscathed.

Yes, the skill of a hockey player is a pretty subjective subject, but I would contest your statement that 'The Belak's, and all the 'no talent goons' in the NHL still probably have more talent than 99.9% of hockey players being paid to play the game.' Use this as a litmus test for skill or talent: would Wade Belak be playing in the NHL if fighting became a game misconduct penalty instead of a five minute major?

Maybe you think the answer is yes; I think the answer is no.

Having said that, I think that there are NHL players in the tough guy role who would survive such a rule change (my definition of talent). I think Tie Domi would survive, Chris Simon, Georges Larocque. I don't think that Peter Worrell would.

There's just too many good young players in the American Hockey League to suggest to me that the 'no talent goons' would fit in the top percentile of talent in non-NHL professional hockey.

Blair

quote:Originally posted by the brother of a Maple Leaf fan, and a Maple Leaf fan himself

The use of the term skill is pretty subjective, but there aren't any players in the NHL who are unskilled. I'm sure Mr. Belak can skate circles around minor leaguers. Those same minor leaguers who terrorized defenses in their junior careers. The Belak's, and all the 'no talent goons' in the NHL still probably have more talent than 99.9% of hockey players being paid to play the game. I'd say thats a reasonable description of skill.

[JayWay]

Wade Belak is the whitest man alive.

Is he afraid of the sun, or what?

[Grasshopper]

I think that they would probably have to hire Jake Busey to play the lead in the Wade Belak Story. Not because he's so good at being really white looking (although his dad was better), but I think that Jake Busey has more skill than 99.9% of actors paid to act.

Blair

quote:Originally posted by JayWay

Wade Belak is the whitest man alive.

Is he afraid of the sun, or what?

[Ryan Keay]

quote:Originally posted by Grasshopper

I'd disagree with you Ryan. Maybe Danko damaged your brain, too. Maybe I'm the only guy that walked out of Lee's Palace unscathed.

Yes, the skill of a hockey player is a pretty subjective subject, but I would contest your statement that 'The Belak's, and all the 'no talent goons' in the NHL still probably have more talent than 99.9% of hockey players being paid to play the game.' Use this as a litmus test for skill or talent: would Wade Belak be playing in the NHL if fighting became a game misconduct penalty instead of a five minute major?

Maybe you think the answer is yes; I think the answer is no.

Having said that, I think that there are NHL players in the tough guy role who would survive such a rule change (my definition of talent). I think Tie Domi would survive, Chris Simon, Georges Larocque. I don't think that Peter Worrell would.

There's just too many good young players in the American Hockey League to suggest to me that the 'no talent goons' would fit in the top percentile of talent in non-NHL professional hockey.

Blair

I say this much, Wade Belak had a rather mediocre but did have an NHL career prior to being a decent fighter. But a player with mediocre by NHL standard skill with his body size will usually find a home. Not with a particularly good team mind you. Belak could be a bottom pairing/spare defenseman for a handful of teams.

Ill put it this way, when both he and Cory Cross were in town, the two were essentially interchangable aside from one factor (no, not Belak's insane whiteness ), Belak takes stupid penalties.

Scary thought tho: Wade Belak was a first round pick by the Quebec Nordiques. [:0]

And as for the Danko related brain damage, considering you rocked a whole percentage point higher than me (in your own words [8D]) and your, "state of intoxication" I think you'd have probably dropped a few more brain cells that night than I.