Downie suspended 20 games for striking official
by James Mirtle on Mar 5, 2009 10:41 AM CST
18 comments
The American Hockey League today announced that Norfolk Admirals right wing Steve Downie has been suspended for twenty (20) regular-season games as a result of his actions in a game at Hershey on Feb. 28.
At the 19:48 mark of the third period, Downie was assessed a game misconduct under the provisions of AHL Rule 41.2 for deliberately striking an official with his stick.>> league release
I'm fairly certain there's no video available of this incident, but if you see anything, pass it my way. Downie strikes me as a very troubled human being.
Here's some info on the incident from The Globe and Mail's Al Maki:
In Downie's defence, Admirals' general manager Mike Butters said his player was simply trying to knock the stick of the Bears' player and – ooops! – missed and struck Hamilton by accident.
“There was no intent whatsoever for any aggressive action towards the official,” Butters was quoted as saying. “I think the official may have overreacted.”
Not so, stated Hershey broadcaster John Walton. He told the St. Petersburg Times that Downie “took a baseball-like swing with full wind-up and struck Hamilton across the right shin.” Walton added Hamilton received medical attention from the Bears' staff and that he had “a big welt.”
Lightning beat writer Damian Cristodero has been following this for a few days and has much more over at Lightning Strikes.
Walton reacts today on his blog by saying: "I hope that the Tampa Bay Lightning will help him use the time wisely. Help this kid get the counseling he needs, because the demons within him are obvious to see."
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Downie is kind of a sad story – he would benefit from anger management therapy probably more than Sean Avery.
He showed tons of promise early on and he’s a pretty talented guy. However he seems unable to control his emotions and he’s constantly out of line.
My understanding of this incident is he whacked a ref on the leg with his stick, because the ref had failed to call a penalty on a play that Downie felt required one…
by Habs on Mar 5, 2009 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah and the ref is very young, I heard him and Downie came up together and have a history with one another.
I’m not saying it’s the ref’s fault by any means, but if a different crew is working that day does Downie take it so personally and lash out?
Regardless of any personal ties, the fact that he did strike an official shows he does need some serious help to get back on the right track.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 5, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah Walton said that the ref and Downie went to kindergarten together.
by Simply Sensational on Mar 5, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Downie is fully capable of controlling his emotions as evident by the time he has spent in Tampa this season. If there is one great thing I can say about Tocchet, it is that he has found a way to calm this kid down and play with focused intensity – hes mean, tough, gritty, hes a rat… he’ll do anything to win, he’ll protect his teammates at all costs. He even went after Byfuglien for trying to run Stamkos.
I think he really wears his emotions out when he is losing. He seems to take some dumb penalties in Norfolk – he gets frustrated, he lets guys get to him and get under his skin and this was the case here. The story about him “knowing the ref and have a history” is garbage. Downie was running his mouth at another player (two guys notorious for jawing, and one guy who is usually silent) and finally snapped and did take a two handed swing, but missed. Now, for what he has done, he does deserve this suspension so please don’t twist my words here. He should not have done that, and furthermore its one thing to take a fight, its another to try to 9-iron someones leg off.
He really looks like two completely different players between Norfolk and Tampa and its almost creepy to see. So much restraint from someone who is supposed to be a “loose cannon” when he is here. He needs to exercise better judgment and common sense at the end of a game like that. I don’t know what it is about the staff here (except that I know Tocchet was salivating at the thought of having both Downie and Artyukhin to coach) except maybe Tocchets playstyle was very similar to Downies. I’d even go as far as saying he looks neutered when he is here.
Hes not really a sad story, he has been one of the three bright spots this season. I never expected him to be this good, this fast. He and Stamkos together are insane – Stamkos with the quick release and Downie with the up-close footwork and being a monster along the wall (the third star being Mike Smith).
He has some more work to do with restraint but something different happens in Norfolk to him…
by BrokeBearMountain on Mar 5, 2009 3:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He was a very questionable choice for the 2007 WJHC Team Canada because of his control issues but he managed to keep it together reasonably well for that tournament. So he knows what is required, he just can’t sustain it. By now he should get it – he just doesn’t.
by hockeycountry on Mar 5, 2009 10:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
When Downie first came into the league I thought, “Here we go, another goon.” Especially when he nearly decapitated Dean McAmmond in the preseason last year. But when I started to see “Goal: Downie” on more than a few score sheets it really put things into perspective. He’s definitely talented but requires far too much babysitting if any team wishes to keep him in line.
I agree with Habs ^ ^ in that this guy is in desperate need of anger management/Avery rehabilitation.
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by FrankD on Mar 5, 2009 11:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
He’s an incredibly talented player … he was putting up two points a game in his last year of junior. I don’t doubt that he’s got NHL-calibre talent, but he’s just a head case.
by James Mirtle on Mar 5, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Steve Downie
Douchebag extraordinaire.
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by eyebleaf on Mar 5, 2009 12:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
What bothers me SO MUCH is the fact that the league had a huge issue with an overblown frat boy prick and sent him to anger management when he’s just a douche, and here’s someone with legitimate anger management issues (and deeper issues, I’m sure, from what I know of his background) and the league does NOTHING. I’m not saying the league’s job or a teams’ job is to babysit, but this is just another example of how bizarre it’s polices are. 20 games isn’t enough – counseling and anger management should be the tip of the iceberg.
I realize this is an AHL suspension, but two 20 games in a year? C’mon.
by antonette on Mar 5, 2009 12:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
You miss the point! It’s all about what Bettman can explain to his daughter, and what he can’t. Because Downie’s thing isn’t really in the media, his daughter won’t know about it. Therefore it’s not really that big of a deal…
/sarcasm
by Habs on Mar 5, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed 100%. I’d have to see video of this, but if he deliberately struck an official I believe that’s grounds for a suspension much longer than 20 games. Any professional sports league must make it clear that physical attacks on officials will result in something approaching death to your career.
Let’s give it a rest with ‘anger management’ classes too. There’s nothing wrong with focused anger and aggressiveness, especially in a sport like hockey. Whatever goes on in this kid’s head is largely his own business. You punish ACTIONS, not thoughts or emotions.
by Cap74 on Mar 5, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Enough with the "anger management"
Jeebus, all of a sudden hockey fans are talking like a bunch of Viennese psychoanalysts.
The guy doesn’t need anger management, he needs assault management. As in a lifetime suspension from professional hockey for being a menace.
by Dr Van Nostrum on Mar 5, 2009 12:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Jeebus, all of a sudden hockey fans are talking like a bunch of Viennese psychoanalysts.
Somehow, Downie lashing out at the ref is really about his struggles controlling his Oedipus complex.
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by bkblades on Mar 5, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He was a headcase in Junior..
…and would not accept the league’s offer to help him (reportedly). He was directly involved in Moe Mantha losing his job. While the linked article has to do with hazing, it gives insight into the boy/demon Downie.
Akim Aliu is not much further ahead in his maturity either.
by hockeycountry on Mar 5, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Sportsnet just showed homefootage of the incident during the Oilers intermission, it’ll probably be up on youtube shortly. Apparently it was during a faceoff after his team just gave up an empty netter.
by RiCEslimbo on Mar 5, 2009 7:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
At some point the NHL needs to cap the total number of games a player may be suspended (minors and NHL combined) and still remain eligible to play in the NHL. This kid has amassed 45 games in suspensions and is only 22 years old.
Is 82 an unreasonable number? I mean if you’ve been suspended for more games than there are in an NHL regular season then that should be it, no?
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MG
by puckreport on Mar 5, 2009 10:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Flyers were right to send him away for whatever they could get.
Us Philly fans used to think Downie would eventually calm down. More and more, it seems like he’s never going to get it.
He’s throwing away a promising career by doing incredibly stupid things.
by feelingkettle on Mar 5, 2009 11:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
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