NHL suspends Avery
Published 11:35 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2008
DALLAS — Of all the cajoling, snide remarks and other stunts Sean Avery pulled on the way to becoming the biggest pest in hockey, never had he gone so far that the NHL suspended him — until Tuesday.
Avery was punished indefinitely by commissioner Gary Bettman for using a crude term about his former girlfriends now dating other hockey players. Bettman acted within hours, in time to keep Avery out of the Dallas Stars’ game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.
Avery’s inflammatory line came following a morning skate in Calgary, Alberta. Reporters were waiting to speak with Avery about disparaging remarks he’d made last month about Flames star Jarome Iginla when Avery walked over to the group and asked if there was a camera present. When told there was, he said, “I’m just going to say one thing.”
“I’m really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada,” he said. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don’t know what that’s about, but enjoy the game tonight.” He then walked out of the locker room.
Avery’s ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert of the television show “24” and the movie “Old School,” is dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf; she had been romantically linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery also dated Rachel Hunter, the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model and actress who is now the girlfriend of Los Angeles Kings center Jarrett Stoll.
Bettman said Avery made “inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game.” The two will meet before the length of the suspension is determined. That get-together is likely to happen soon.
Notes
Crosby gains in all-star voting
NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Penguins start Sidney Crosby is closing on a trio of Montreal Canadiens in voting for the NHL all-star game. Montreal players lead all six starting spots on the Eastern Conference team as of Tuesday, and Crosby is within 65,000 votes of third-place forward Alex Tanguay (385,297). Alex Kovalev (393,303) and Saku Koivu (390,026) lead the voting for the position. Crosby is followed by Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin (264,914).
Hurricanes recall goalie
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes recalled goalie Justin Peters from Albany of the American Hockey League after starter Cam Ward went down with a groin injury. To clear roster room for Peters, the Hurricanes placed defenseman Tim Gleason on injured reserve. Gleason has missed the last four games with a leg injury.
