Here at Hockey Cop, I'm all for justice. I want the calls on the ice or by the Shanahan-hammer to be fair in all aspects.
I want it by the rules. I want the rules to be fair. I want the same level of judgment used by all Referees or by the Office of Player Safety. Equal punishment for equal crimes.
But sometimes, things happen that offer a different kind of justice that choose a different path than the normal means (such as a penalty box, retalitory fight or sublimental fine and suspension).
I offer you this example of a player/fan exchange that, well, is the absolute definition of equal justice. An eye for an eye (so to speak).
Link to Video.
I love hockey.
Speaking of Shanahan justice, did you know he used to play in the NHL? It's true. The man on the videos that tells us why there was no apparent injury, no sudden movement, and no attempt to avoid or minimize hits was a Red Wing. And he found himself in the penalty box from time to time.
Link to video.
That guy is now in charge of dishing out suspensions.
But you know one thing that Shanahan hasn't dealt with yet this season (at least in published video form)? Stick theft.
Look at this video of a fan trying to make a fast getaway. And giving up just before a real hockey cop walks over. Oh, and make note of one of the dumbest rules the League had before getting rid of it: two-line pass. I'm thankful those days are over. Anyway...
Link to video.
Apparently, this type of stick larceny was not uncommon in the NHL.
Link to video.
They even mention another incident in that video about a fan grabbing a stick from the glass. And it wasn't the same one we saw earlier because it mentioned a delay.
These are things we don't get to see in today's NHL because there are stantions in place between the panes of glass. I don't think that's the reason they are there, but they do prevent (if not eliminate) this type of thing from happening now.
One last thing. Perhaps the most annoying thing in the world for me to see when watching any sporting event is an idiot standing up with his cell phone to his ear and waving at the camera for his buddy at home on the sofa. These are the kinds of people I hate.
This last clip reminds me of that kind of idiot, though the parties involved aren't acting dumb on their own. The person at home is saying via cellphone "The TV told me to tell you something..."
Link to video.
And the guy's a lawyer. Perfect way to justify it being on the Hockey Cop blog (see how I went back to the begining there with the word justice? Book ending it.)
Final thought: how boring was that game that the tv broadcasters are playing with a specific family and missing some of the on ice action (you can hear the puck hitting the sticks)?
It had to be pretty boring. I'm guessing this is the 1996 game at home against Detroit based on the other guy in the crowd with the Red Wings jersey on and the 25 year patch on Rosenberg. Yes, fans can and do wear old jerseys, but the footage looks 1996ish, doesn't it?
The clothes, the quality of the film, the jogging suits are all very 1996. And the fact that the Islanders lost that game 7-1. That means the producers figured folks at home would probably be more entertained by this old fan wiggling his fingers with his thumbs in his ear than anything the Islanders were doing on the ice.
They were probably right.
I know this is more of a Empire Sports type entry, but even the cop-ish parts of hockey are fun from time to time making it acceptable for the Hockey Cop Blog
