I understand hockey is rough. Players get injured, there’s blood, hits, knife shoes, etc. HOW-FUCKING-EVER, if a player is down on the ice in the shooting lane while players are fucking slapshotting the puck at the goal STOP THE FUCKING GAME.
I don’t particularly give a flying puck what team has the puck. I don’t particularly care if the guy might be faking it. Blow the fucking whistle.
And to say that “it’s hockey” or “he wasn’t in danger” honestly makes me feel so gobsmacked.
If Versteeg hadn’t had his hand by his face, he could’ve gotten a fucking slapshot to his head. For the love of fucking Gretzky NHLPA, every passing season I get more and more convinced that you are the most worthless piece of shit since white crayons.
Pull thy head from thy ass and do your fucking job.
Add this incident to all the other uncalled and unpenalised injuries so far this season while they concentrate on slashing penalties for ‘player safety’.
Let’s make a list of times player health and safety was not a priority of the referees. (please feel free to add to this- I know there are more that I haven’t seen or have forgotten)
Marc-Andre Fleury– kneed in the head, penalty not called, play not immediately halted, concussion protocol not followed- plays out rest of game, now out with concussion
Nathan MacKinnon– high sticked under visor, penalty not called, play not halted, pulled from game with vision issues and suspected eye injury (luckily not, was just very close)
FrankVatrano– takes bad hit from Erik Gudbranson, delayed penalty call from referee, Vatrano does not return to game. While Canucks were heavily penalised and Gudbranson ejected, NHL precedence in punishing players for this kind of play is shitty and nowhere near as hash as it should be if they actually want to discourage this kind of shit from happening. 46% of a survey on 1800 people don’t think he should be suspended for the hit.
KrisVersteeg– collapses on ice when hit blocking a puck. Play not called despite his obvious inability to stand. Almost takes puck to the head (only saved by his own hand protecting him) by an unaware Jeff Skinner.