Golisano Sends Letter To Bettman
Brad Riter - Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 6:15 PM
Following is the text of an official letter that was sent by Buffalo
Sabres owner B. Thomas Golisano to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today.
http://www.wgr550.com/sabres/fullstory.php?id=2195
----------
Gary B. Bettman, Commissioner,
National Hockey League,
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor
New York, NY 10020
February 24, 2007
Dear Gary,
I am deeply concerned with the standard the NHL has adopted that seems
to allow violent hits to the head.
In light of the most recent injury to our captain Chris Drury, I am
calling on you to address this issue immediately before another player
is seriously injured or worse.
In our recent game with the Ottawa Senators, an opposing player skated
half the width of the ice surface, approached Chris Drury from his blind
side, and delivered a blow to his head which dislodged his helmet,
severely lacerating the area around his eye causing a concussion. Chris
Drury did not have the puck, he was not able to see the player coming
from behind, and had relaxed his guard. The player in question was aware
his presence was undetected but chose to deliver a vicious blow, which
can only be construed as intent to injure.
Hitting is a very important part of our game. You hit to break up a
shot, you hit to disrupt a pass, you hit to battle for the puck and you
hit to gain position for a defensive or offensive play. There are many
times a player is vulnerable. And there are many times when a player can
make a hit on a vulnerable player but chooses not to for fear of
injuring an opponent for no practical advantage. It's called respect.
What we cannot allow are hits that are designed to injure and maim. The
hit delivered to Chris Drury the other night was a hit to injure. In my
view there is no other way to view that play.
As you know, we have been on the other end of hits which cause injury to
the head. Tim Connolly, our star offensive player was knocked out of the
Stanley Cup by this same team. Although I didn't like it, Tim's
situation is very different. He had the puck; he was making a play and
could have reasonably seen the approaching player. I never complained.
This situation is very different.
Your office informed our team today that the hit on Chris Drury was a
legal hit and that it fit within the standard of play acceptable to the
NHL. We do not think this should be the standard and we do not think it
helps our game or the league. There is nothing manly about hitting a
player that can't see you. There is nothing entertaining about a big man
hitting a smaller man in the head. There is nothing good to come of a
policy that allows exciting skilled players to be targets for what I
believe to be predatory play.
I strongly urge you to convene the appropriate forum to immediately
review this policy.
Sincerely,
B. Thomas Golisano,
Governor 
