Canada’s Patrice Cormier Lays a Vicious Elbow on Anton Rodin
Line changes are pretty routine in hockey. Most or all of the players skate off quickly while a new unit comes on the ice, right? Well not in this game between Sweden and Canada. Canada was up 4-0 about halfway through the 2nd period when Patrice Cormier laid a huge elbow into Anton Rodin's face. The Canadian Cormier was somehow unsatisfied with the huge lead they had built up and decided that a message needed to be sent.
This is what makes hockey so great and yet so fatally flawed. The physical nature of the game makes it more fun to watch in some ways than any other sport, but it also creates a dangerous situation for many of the players. It's possible that the Swedes were playing dirty up to that point and I am all in favor of retribution, but this dirty hit seems to just come out of nowhere. Rodin couldn't have even thrown down and fought it out since he was basically out of commission. As Cormier and the Canadian team are moving towards the bench of a line change, Rodin comes skating up the ice and Cormier just nails him as he goes off the ice. It is sneaky and you can't even see it well until the announcers point it out and then zoom in on it.
So am I being too critical of this hit? Sure. Hits in general are what make hockey great (unless they are on accident, that isn't pretty). This was an extremely dirty play though and you can be sure that if it were my teammate that took that hit, there would be revenge.
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Patrice Cormier? Just a freak of the game that should never have represented Canada. This was not an isolated act. The guy is a serial offender and should have been suspended in the world juniors. Maybe, just maybe, Team Canada would have won if the concept of integrity was a cornerstone of the team bench. Any coach that puts this bully on the ice has to share some of the responsibility. What would he do to get and edge? Could it involve substance abuse? The stuff does provide the platform for the rage we see in his game. Yes! He should be tested! If i ever see this kid on the ice he will get a round of boooooos from everyone I know. You hit to facilitate puck control not to eliminate your competition. Cowards hmm? I pity the New Jersey Devils who wasted a signing bonus. Patrice is all smiles today hmmm. “Gee boss i done good didn’t I. share my money with no-one eh? They gave me a mazda” duh! I hit goood, eh,” quack like a duck. Yup its a duck, no, a devil.
Lets get some integrity back in the Game!!