Does Rick Rypien deserve to be suspended? Wed, October 20, 2010
By Reuters
Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien is expected to face a National Hockey League disciplinary hearing after he confronted and pushed a fan during his team's 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the second period as Rypien was heading to his team's dressing room after being assessed a double minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct penalty.
Footage of the incident, which has already been posted on YouTube, showed the fan applauding before Rypien pushed the fan in the chest and attempted to grab him before being pulled away by a teammate.
What should happen to Rypien? Have your say in our forum.
I watched the video several times. It didn't appear that the fan did anything at all but may have before the segment of video. Regardless of that I say he gets a life time ban from the NHL. If I asaulted a customer I'd loose my job. No different here as the fans are the customers of the NHL. I understand this may seem harsh as he really only pushed and pulled him however the intent was there.
Dwain, 2010-10-20 16:49:08
Wow....typical Canuck fan response, ED. Give me a break. It is the ultimate taboo. If you cannot put up with fans jeering or taunting (not that this poor fan did anything) then you do not deserve to play NHL "Professional" hockey. GO to the ECHL for awhile. Rypien can only play with his fist and his cement head. Get rid of him, 20 games minimum.
Lou Zercanuks, 2010-10-20 16:00:17
NHL is a joke. Look at the NFL and how quickly they act on rule changes.
Anyways this guy is a no talent "enforcer", every team has one or two of them. They should all be thrown out of the league.
jimmy, 2010-10-20 14:22:44
He deserves 2 suspensions! Firstly because no fan, irregardless of what they say or do deserves to be attacked. If any fan is stupid enough to touch a player, then they will have to deal with the police.
Secondly he deserves another suspension cause he had the "brain fart" to even sign with Vancouver.
john, 2010-10-20 14:06:09
A verbal reprimand is all that is necessary, the Fan was probably being obnoxious throughout the game....let it be.
Ed, 2010-10-20 14:01:37
ABSOLUTELY!
All the fan did was clap his hands which is PERFECTLY ALLOWED in a sports arena..
The player needs to be suspended for his actions as he was the one that ATTACKED the fan.
If anything, the fan has every right to file a CRIMINAL CHARGE against the hockey player for assault.
When that happens, then the NHL has the right to suspend the hockey player indefinitely as a strong message to other NHL players.
John Smith, 2010-10-20 13:57:46
it is what it is...many players have done, where was the secruity ????
Diane, 2010-10-20 13:52:59
Suspension? You bet! And if I'm that fan, I call a lawyer immediately. All that fan did was pay to go to a hockey game and clapped his hands. Rypien had no right to put his hands on that fan and I'd sue him for sure. What a piece of garbage. Yup, at least 10 games for this. We're (fans) paying his salary and this is how he returns the favor? Wow, what a clown!
Dave, 2010-10-20 13:30:42
He certainly does deserve to be suspended. He's supposed to to be a "Professional". He should know better than to actually touch a fan.
B Harrison, 2010-10-20 13:21:59
From the video it appears the fan was only applauding the fact Rypien was being sent off. If that was the only motivation for shoving a fan, he deserves at least 10 games, and some anger management.
Tom, 2010-10-20 13:02:45
Dwain, 2010-10-20 16:49:08
Lou Zercanuks, 2010-10-20 16:00:17
Anyways this guy is a no talent "enforcer", every team has one or two of them. They should all be thrown out of the league.
jimmy, 2010-10-20 14:22:44
Secondly he deserves another suspension cause he had the "brain fart" to even sign with Vancouver.
john, 2010-10-20 14:06:09
Ed, 2010-10-20 14:01:37
All the fan did was clap his hands which is PERFECTLY ALLOWED in a sports arena..
The player needs to be suspended for his actions as he was the one that ATTACKED the fan.
If anything, the fan has every right to file a CRIMINAL CHARGE against the hockey player for assault.
When that happens, then the NHL has the right to suspend the hockey player indefinitely as a strong message to other NHL players.
John Smith, 2010-10-20 13:57:46
Diane, 2010-10-20 13:52:59
Dave, 2010-10-20 13:30:42
B Harrison, 2010-10-20 13:21:59
Tom, 2010-10-20 13:02:45