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Report- NHL Looking At Leafs/Rangers Pre-Game Incident
by Paul on 11/12/07 at 07:44 PM ET
Comments (7)
from CBC,
The NHL is investigating an on-ice incident involving abrasive New York Rangers forward Sean Avery, according to the Canadian Press.
Avery, 27, shoved Jason Blake and got into a heated exchange with Darcy Tucker during the pre-game warmup prior to Saturday’s 3-2 shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.
“He has no sense of class,” Tucker told reporters following Monday’s skate.
Avery allegedly irked Tucker by saying something inappropriate to Blake, who revealed Oct. 8 that he is suffering from a rare but treatable form of leukemia (chronic myelogenous).
added 6:30am on 11/13/07, from the Globe and Mail,
The agent for New York Rangers forward Sean Avery was steaming mad that a radio report yesterday suggested that taunts made by his client during the pregame skate on Saturday evening were directed toward Toronto Maple Leafs winger Jason Blake, who is battling against cancer.
The FAN 590 in Toronto reported that an unnamed Rangers player said Avery ignited a scuffle with Leafs forward Darcy Tucker because of insensitive remarks.
Although Avery did not publicly comment yesterday on the radio station’s accusation, behind closed doors he and other Rangers said the remarks made by Avery were directed at Tucker and his family.
added 7:01am on 11/13/07, from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
Sean Avery is preparing to file a libel charge against a Toronto radio personality who reported yesterday that Saturday’s pregame skirmish between the Rangers’ winger and the Maple Leafs’ Darcy Tucker was incited by Avery referring to Jason Blake’s cancer condition, The Post has learned.
Advised by his attorney to decline public comment, Avery has privately denied the charge as broadcast by Howard Berger over The Fan 590.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: darcy+tucker, jason+blake, new+york+rangers, new+york+rangers, Sean+Avery, toronto+maple+leafs,
Comments
Avery allegedly irked Tucker by saying something inappropriate to Blake, who revealed Oct. 8 that he is suffering from a rare but treatable form of leukemia (chronic myelogenous).
Nice how they implied it was a comment about Blake’s cancer. If that was true, I doubt just Tucker would have been after Avery, and it wouldn’t have been just words and shoves exchanged.
Posted by K24 from NYC on 11/12/07 at 10:18 PM ET
Avery needs a beating, and I think many will enjoy it when it comes. Even he and his teammates agree that there were comments about another players family… that is just lame. Trash talk all you want about the guys on the ice - but don’t go beyond that.
Tucker maybe classless, but he is no where near Avery.
Quickly checking schedule for next Leafs/Rangers game, ah yes Thursday Dec 10 in NY - PVR set 
Posted by WingMan from Canada on 11/13/07 at 06:51 AM ET
Maybe they need to hire a pre-game babysitter for Avery to keep him out of trouble.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/13/07 at 08:30 AM ET
While I wouldn’t expect Avery to know it, Brooks should certainly understand the difference between libel and slander.
Posted by shep from california on 11/13/07 at 12:03 PM ET
Since when is all of the attempted spearing now legal in the pre-game warmups? It started against New Jersey (Avery) and was evident again in Toronto (Tucker). The NHL has to come down with one game bans any time this happens prior to a game. Seems the common thread is Avery, but it is hard to be sympathetic towards Tucker unless you are a Leafs fan.
Posted by Hockey1919 from Montreal on 11/13/07 at 12:58 PM ET
Trash talk all you want about the guys on the ice - but don’t go beyond that.
Somehow I doubt Avery is the only player who makes comments about family, girlfriends, etc. There’s no denying Avery is an arrogant jerk who deserves to get slapped around, but it’s naive to think that other guys don’t say some of the same stuff. He just doesn’t stop talking, and players are stupid to listen to him. Look at the Buffalo-Rangers series last year. The Sabres players saw what he did to Atlanta and instead of letting him get under their skin, they ignored him, and he was a complete non-factor in that series.
Posted by K24 on 11/13/07 at 03:35 PM ET
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