CASE: Multiple Misconducts: Cross checking

2003-04 Season

(O.C. Art I, Sec 14, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3)
At the end of the third period in a semi-final playoff series, a member of the losing team became involved in an altercation with a member of the opposite team. The player delivered a forceful crosscheck to the face of the opposing team member that caused an injury that required medical attention. The opposing team player retaliated with a two handed slash to the body of the other player. The opposing team player was then ‘jumped’ by a different player than the one who originally crosschecked the opposing team member. The player who performed the crosscheck was given a match penalty. The opposing team member was given a match penalty for the slash and a gross misconduct for actions taking place after the altercation. The player who ‘jumped’ in was assessed an instigator minor, a fighting major and a game misconduct.

RULING: 

The player who jumped in received a one game suspension for a game misconduct in the last 10 minutes of the third period and an additional one game suspension for it being his fourth misconduct of the season. The player who was injured received a two game suspension for his match penalty. The Commissioner ruled that no additional suspension was necessary for the actions resulting in the gross misconduct. The player who performed the crosscheck was immediately suspended indefinitely. The player ultimately was given a 6 game suspension on the basis that the act constituted an aggravating circumstance (act of instigation, using a stick as a weapon to inflict a blow to the head, act taken place at the end of a game, and during a playoff series where his team was losing).
(2003-04, Phipps)