Semyon Varlamov
Varlamov is facing charges of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault. The kidnapping charge is a Class 4 felony - punishable by 2 to 6 years in prison. The assault charge is a misdemeanor. The event that caused him to receive these charges were as follows, as told by his Russian girlfriend, the victim of said charges:
"It happened on Tuesday at 6 a.m. My boyfriend came home drunk and acting strange and rushed at me with the intention of beating me. He grabbed my hands and twisted me. When I tried to close the door to the room and get him out of the room, he kicked me in the chest with his leg. Twice I fell on the ground, and it hurt me a lot. After that we had a small fight between the kitchen and the lobby. At this moment, he was laughing."
Sound like a great guy and role model, just the player I would want my kids emulating. The fact that this happened is not even the aggravating part of this story, the aggravating part is that Varlamov started in goal yesterday for Avalanche. He received no punishment from his coach, the Avalanche organization or, more importantly, the NHL - and got to play Friday. Why was this felon in goal - why was he aloud to step foot back in the Avalanche locker room. Obviously, he is innocent until proven guilty - but you don't let him back until that happens.
This is the first failure by the NHL within the past week involving a NHL goaltender. The new CBA allows for players under criminal investigation to be suspended. Why was that not enacted here, why is was Varlamov allowed to start yesterday in Dallas? That is a question I cannot answer.
Failure Number 1 by the NHL
Ray Emery
Semyon Varlamov was not the only felon on NHL ice yesterday. Ray Emery, starting goaltender for the struggling Philadelphia Flyers, was in goal last night during the Flyers 7-0 thumping by the Washington Capitals.....who were without star LW Alexander Ovechkin. It should be noted that Emery did not start in goal - backup goaltender Steve Mason was - but was put in after the Capitals took a 5-0 lead. Two goals later, the Flyers did what the Flyers do when they are loosing - fight anyone in an opposing uniform. Apparently, the opposing goalie is not exempt from that game plan.
In the dying minutes of the 7-0 game, a fight broke out between both teams. Every player on the ice was involved. Ray Emery, feeling left out, skated over to the other side of the ice and challenged Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby to a fight. The problem? Holtby didn't want to fight. Emery didn't care. He then proceeded to pummel the young Capitals goaltender until the referees broke it up several powerful blows (in total about 8 from Emery) later. Holtby, after the first few punches, went into what could be described as a defensive curl position in order to try and get out of the way of the barrage of punches Emery was throwing his way. This was not a fight. It was an assault. Had this happened off the ice, Emery would have joined fellow goaltender Varlamov in jail. He assaulted a defensiveness player. One that had no desire to fight him in the first place. I believe fighting has a place in hockey - but only when both players agree to it. Its part of what makes hockey special and one of the reason I love it so much. But not like this. When asked about the fight, Emery said the following:
"He didn't want to fight. And I said, basically, protect yourself. He didn't really have much of a choice."
Assault. That's what Emery admitted to after the game. He he was proud of it - and so were the people at Philadelphia, giving him the 3rd star of the game, something that disgusts me even more. Emery should be suspended for the rest of the season. The whole Flyers team should be finned, heavily, before this becomes a common thing in a season that will see the Flyers at the bottom of standings. Philadelphia is a disgrace to the league - they always have been. It's time the NHL forces them to shape up or else. Emery needs to be suspended. The Flyers organization need to be fined. But neither will happen.
Failure Number 2 by the NHL.
No comments:
Post a Comment