While this was a truly ugly and dirty play, at least it wasn’t in the NHL. Hope that guy be ok long term.

An hope the offender NEVER makes it to the NHL.

Posted by Simian on 01/18/10 at 08:51 AM ET

Brutal, just brutal and sadly completely unnecessary…

Posted by Moocat on 01/18/10 at 09:22 AM ET

Hold on guys, before you jump to a judgment we need to consider the nationality of each party. 

Cormier is Canadian, so that is a mitigating factor.

I presume Mikael Tam is not, so that is another mitigating factor.

BUT, Patrick Roy is the “victimized coach”

If it were the NHL:

“It was a clean hit by good ol’ boy Cormier, and Tam was admiring his pass.  Saint Roy has demanded some sort of restitution, so Cormer will be sent a harshly worded letter and told not to do that again”

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 01/18/10 at 09:33 AM ET

That could have been one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen.
I hope Cormier is expelled from the CHL permanently.

A human being was convulsing on the ice from a premeditated heinous act. There’s no room for that in any sport professional or amateur.

Toss him out of the league!

Posted by Hank from Kingsville, Ontario on 01/18/10 at 09:35 AM ET

That was just sick.  They did mention that the SQ (provincial police) are on the case.
Also, 5 seconds with The Google was enough for me to find out that Mikael Tam is from Quebec City, born and raised.  Bit of backhanded racism much?  I really like this site, I’m here every day although I rarely comment.  I’m used to the backhanded swipes at Canadians and I totally understand where it comes from, a lot of us can be pretty insufferable when it comes to hockey.  If your diss is part of a larger cohesive argument I’m totally cool with that.  Can’t stand Grapes?  I’m 100% behing you there.  But lazy ill tempered generalizations are not cool.

Posted by dwgs from montreal on 01/18/10 at 10:25 AM ET

Absolutely disgusting.

Unfortunately not surprising, as Cormier is the same POS that labeled another player (a swedish player, I think?) with a blatant elbow in one of the Canadian Juniors’ pre-tournament games.

Posted by Garth on 01/18/10 at 10:31 AM ET

That is a hit that could have killed that kid.

Posted by false_cause from DC on 01/18/10 at 12:12 PM ET

This attitude trickles down from the NHL to the minors, and the junior leagues.

If the NHL quit worrying about trapezoids, shootouts, goal sizes, and “between the benches” commentary, and started worrying about restoring integrity to officiating and supplemental punishment, all hockey would be better for it.

Hopefully the minor and junior leagues realize they need to be proactive and make the right changes before the NHL, let the NHL lag behind like the pathetic little sister pro sports league it is.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 01/18/10 at 12:15 PM ET

I hate Patrice Cormier!
I cant see why it´s necessary to hit/elbow other players whitout the puck involved!
He did it to SWE player Anton Rödin in the junior pre-games, and he did it to a FIN player to. I would like a talk to him in the backstreets of my hood!

Posted by Michael from sweden on 01/18/10 at 12:47 PM ET

Mikael Tam is from Quebec City
I take it back, then. 

It was a swipe at the intellectual dishonesty behind handing out suspensions on dirty hits only when they’re unpopular players with the North American media.  Yes, there was a dig at Cherry in there.  Dirty plays are dirty plays, but nothing makes me sick more than ignoring headshots or pretending that they’re just like any other dirty hit. 

If not just doing it for the players well-being; hockey alum can be ambassadors for the game.  That won’t work out if players in their 40s and 50s have Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s symptoms like we see with NFL alum. Heads are special, a lot goes on in there.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 01/18/10 at 01:42 PM ET

man this hit was so dirty.  hits like this piss me off so much.  Talk about no respect for your opponent.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 01/18/10 at 02:37 PM ET

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 01/18/10 at 12:15 PM ET

Very well said sir.  That was scary to watch.

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 01/18/10 at 06:23 PM ET

Patrice Cormier is known for his hits so I don’t understand why any of you expect anything better. He was Captain of team Canada and it went to his head. He thinks he can do no wrong and all that will happen is a slap on the wrist. I think the league should make and example of him. If someone as high profile as him, a role model for young players across our country, can hit like that and have nothing happen what does that teach kids about the game? Suspend him until the end of the 2010-2011 season and then look at reinstating him. There was no reason for him to even hit the guy let alone elbow his face. He is a repeat offender and he needs to understand that hockey is not about that.

Posted by hockeygirl on 01/18/10 at 08:02 PM ET

To think the NHL sets such a poor standard, this hit is not much different than Jovanowski on Tavares, the only difference was the result.  JOVO as repeat offender recieved only 2 games. Do the kids see these plays and then think it is okay? Let’s see of the Junior’s wheel of justice is any different than the NHL’s.

Posted by Hockey1919 from Montreal on 01/19/10 at 10:03 AM ET

I am a fan of Patrice Cormier, but that hit was seriously disturbing. He deserves to be banned from the CHL for life, and should not be allowed to play in the AHL until next season.

MarkK, from Maryland, no offence, but taking jabs at Canada and Canadians, whether backhanded or not, is pretty weak. Should Zucker have been suspended after his knock-out elbow in the WJHC? Yeah, the ref threw the wrong guy out, but does that absolve Zucker of being a dirty cheap shot artist?

And to poster Michael, from Sweden, didn’t your country produce Ulf Samuelsson? He took it upon himself to try to end Cam Neely’s career, and the careers of many other NHL’ers with gross cheap shots.

Posted by Jay from Canada, where the good ole boys live on 01/19/10 at 10:17 AM ET

In this video Cormier is seen to stalk Tam and blindside him with an intentional sucker elbow to the face. It’s one of the most calculating,  vicious and cowardly attacks as one is to see in hockey. It’s as bad as Kermit Washington’s sucker-punch of Rudy Tomjanovich in basketball a couple decades ago. Off the ice, a brutal and unprovoked attack like this would result in jail time in most countries in the world. There was no call for that elbow. What’s Cormier’s excuse, he’s a misunderstood good sport? Tell that to Tam’s family.

Posted by Zach from US on 01/19/10 at 10:45 AM ET

What’s even more disgusting is how some of his World Jr. teammates are defending him saying ‘he’s not like that’. Or the best one is “it happens sometimes’.

Tell that to Tam or his family!

I hope Cormier gets jail time and is banned from all levels of hockey for a minimum of 12 months! What he did was premeditated. And considering he has a history of this stuff, he should be tossed from hockey for life!

Posted by Hank from Kingsville, Ontario on 01/19/10 at 01:23 PM ET

Patrice Cormier? Just a freak of the game that should never have represented this country. This was not an isolated act. The guy is a serial offender and should have been suspended in the world juniors. Maybe, just maybe Team Canada would have won if the concept of integrity was a cornerstone of the team bench. Any coach that puts this bully on the ice has to share some of the responsibility. The apple does not fall far from the tree. His brother is just as much of an ass. What would they do to get and edge. Could it involve substance abuse? The stuff does provide the platform for the rage we see in his game. Yes! He should be tested! If i ever see this kid on the ice he will get a round of boooooos from everyone I know. You hit to facilitate puck control not to eliminate your competition. Cowards All. I pity the New Jersey Devils who wasted a signing bonus. Patrice is all smiles today hmmm. “Gee boss i done good didn’t I. I’m not going to share my money with no-one eh?” duh! Ha Ha Ha

Lets get some integrity back in the Game!!

Posted by Hockey Dad from Ontario on 01/19/10 at 02:47 PM ET

Brutal hit.

I have played hockey for years and that elbow was BS. He should be thrown out. Imagine if he took out your son? My son plays rep hockey and I tell you, there is a lack of respect out there for each other. Make the suspensions harsher and get rid of this boneheads like Cormier. A true Canadian idiot!

Posted by George from Toronto on 01/19/10 at 02:55 PM ET

Some pretty interesting stuff, lots of speculation here about motives.  Bottomline is that is ‘weak’ hockey for Canadian, American, Swedish or where ever you call home.  Hit hard if it’s clean and somebody gets hurt it’s an unfortunate part of the game.  Hit dirty and be ready for a good old fashion beat down.  Hit this dirty and you should never play again. 

Gutless hit!!!

Posted by Bryan from PA - US on 01/31/10 at 08:43 PM ET

This kind of irrational behavior by kids in this game is truly disturbing.

What exactly was Cormier thinking of accomplishing other than to intentionally to hurt someone?

Did someone on the bench tell Cormier to send a message to Tam and the rest of the Ramparts or is he just a reckless kid with no respect for anything in life?

These are sad times for anyone involved in the game of hockey and as a parent to think it could happen to your child sickens my stomach.

Posted by John from Oakville on 02/01/10 at 10:21 PM ET