CASE: Multiple Misconducts - Cross checking

2003-04 Season

(O.C. Art I, Sec 14, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3)
In the semi-final series a member from the losing team delivered a forceful crosscheck to the winning team’s goalie, rendering him unconscious. He was diagnosed with a concussion and was not able to play for the remainder of the semi-final series. The crosscheck lead to all 10 players on the ice being involved in minor scuffles. The player who crosschecked the goalie was given a match penalty for the crosscheck, a major penalty for a subsequent fight and a double game misconduct. All other players received fighting majors and double game misconducts.

RULING: 

The Commissioner felt that only single game misconducts should have been assessed, including to the player who crosschecked the goalie. Because the misconducts were in the last 10 minutes of the third period, all the players received a one game suspension. The player who crosschecked the goalie also received an additional one game suspension, because it was his 4th misconduct of the season. With respect to the match penalty, the player was suspended indefinitely. The player was ultimately given a 7 game suspension on the basis of aggravating circumstances (the apparent planned retaliation to a minor slash from the goalie, using a stick as a weapon to inflict a blow to the head, act taken place at the end of a game his team was losing significantly, act taken place during a playoff series, and the act involved a key position of the goaltender, which may put a team at a disadvantage).
(2003-04, Phipps)