| | PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins coach Herb Brooks was
suspended Tuesday by the NHL for an additional game for shoving and
verbally attacking a Colorado Avalanche announcer who suggested a
Penguins player embellishes injuries.
Brooks, who returned to the NHL as a coach last month, was given
the extra game's suspension during a disciplinary hearing in New
York. Brooks was suspended for Saturday's 4-2 loss to Nashville and
also will miss Wednesday's game against St. Louis.
Brooks, best known for coaching the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S.
Olympic hockey team, became angry after confronting Avalanche
announcer John Kelly in a hallway after Pittsburgh's 4-3 loss Thursday in Denver.
Shortly after Pittsburgh forward Matthew Barnaby suffered a
concussion while being cross-checked in the back of the neck by
Colorado's Alexei Gusarov, Kelly suggested that Barnaby is known
for exaggerating injuries. Brooks was told of the remark and began
yelling at Kelly, who is the son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Dan Kelly, when he spotted him after the game.
"Did you make that call on Barnaby?" Brooks shouted at Kelly. "You say he has a tendency to embellish? What the hell kind of call was that? You aren't half the person your dad was."
Brooks initially cursed at Kelly as he questioned him about the
call, then shoved the announcer and said, "I'll kick your butt all
over the place, all right?" before an NHL security officer separated them.
Brooks screamed repeatedly at Kelly, "Was that your call? Was
that your call?" and protested to him that Gusarov "almost tore
his (Barnaby's) head off, and then you said, 'He has a tendency to embellish.' "
Kelly's father, Dan, was the voice of the St. Louis Blues for 21 years.
Brooks initially said he didn't regret the incident because he
was standing up for a player who was wronged, but has since
softened his stance.
"The confrontation Mr. Brooks initiated was inappropriate
conduct for a head coach in this league," NHL executive vice
president Colin Campbell said. "Mr. Brooks has acknowledged this
and has expressed regrets the incident occurred. While that was
taken into the account, such contact between any NHL personnel and
members of the media is not acceptable."
Before the hearing, Brooks said he hoped the league would take
into consideration the incident was the first of its kind in his
six seasons as an NHL coach.
Brooks' two-game suspension matches the suspension Gusarov drew
for cross-checking Barnaby. The play did not result in a penalty.
"You stand up for your players when they are busting their
tails," Brooks said after the game. "I'm not just going to let
them be hung out to dry. I'll battle for them."
Barnaby sat out the Nashville game with the concussion, then
visited a doctor Monday and was cleared to play.
Eddie Johnston, a two-time former Penguins coach who returned to
the coaching staff after Kevin Constantine was fired last month,
was behind the bench Saturday and will be again Wednesday.
Brooks isn't allowed to be in the arena or have telephone
contact with any Penguins staff member during the game. He can
return to the bench Saturday at Montreal. | |
ALSO SEE
NHL suspends Pens coach Brooks for tirade in Denver
Barnaby: Brooks' suspension is 'ridiculous'
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Herb Brooks confrontation (Courtesy: KUSA)
RealVideo: | 28.8
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